On Wednesday 22nd May, The Lord Lieutenant of Devon, David Fursdon, opened ‘The Lady Arran Wing’ at the North Devon Hospice. The wing was named after The Rt. Hon. The Countess of Arran CVO MBE, after retiring from her role as Patron for North Devon Hospice after an incredible 34 years of service.
Lady Arran was first inaugurated as President of the hospice board in 1990 and went on to become Patron soon after, dedicating over a quarter of a century to championing local hospice care and playing a crucial role in the development of the charity.
North Devon Hospice Chief Executive Stephen Roberts said Lady Arran’s passion, dedication, and tireless commitment to ensuring vital care is ready and waiting for the people of North Devon will never be forgotten:
“Lady Arran has been the driving force behind so much of the growth and development here at North Devon Hospice. From spearheading the Light in the Dark appeal to build our beloved Bedded Unit to assisting greatly with securing funding for The Long House, our outreach centre in Holsworthy, there is no part of the hospice she hasn’t had a positive impact on.”
As well as spreading awareness of the hospice across North Devon and beyond, and inspiring many to support various fundraising appeals, Lady Arran has also hosted a number of special events at Castle Hill Estate in aid of the hospice.
“Dreamwalk was one of our earliest and most memorable fundraising events, as were the award-winning National Sheep Dog Trials, both of which helped to significantly raise the profile of the hospice as a charity, regionally and nationally,” added Stephen. “Of course, neither of these flagship events would have been possible without Lady Arran’s boundless generosity and unwavering support. We will be forever grateful for her vital contribution and the empathy and kindness she has consistently shown to our patients, families, and staff over the past 34 years.”
In recognition of her outstanding support, a part of the hospice building where the care teams and Bedded Unit are situated has been named ‘The Lady Arran Wing’. A special reception was held to mark the occasion, at which Lady Arran unveiled a dedicated plaque to mark her Patronage.
Lady Arran first became involved with the hospice after moving to Castle Hill Estate in 1989 and feeling inspired after a visit to nearby Richardson House – the hospice’s very first daycare unit in Barnstaple.
“When I was first introduced to Richardson House, which was run by the late Lord Richardson and his small but dedicated team, I was astounded at the wonderful care being offered there.” said Lady Arran. “At the time, there were just seven patients but it was a remarkable place, one that I’ve felt hugely privileged to be part of ever since.”
In looking back on her time as Patron for North Devon Hospice, Lady Arran recalls some of the standout moments that have made her years at the charity even more cherished.
“One of the most special times for me was when we were fundraising to build the Bedded Unit, with the Light in the Dark appeal. As part of this, we hosted Dreamwalk at my home – Castle Hill. It was a spectacular evening and one which brought the whole community of North Devon together. The thing I remember most is the beautiful water screen in front of the house, which had the voices of people from the hospice talking about their family members who’d been looked after. It was so moving and left people with a lasting memory that inspired them to support the appeal.”
Over the years, Lady Arran has been at the forefront of countless events and occasions at North Devon Hospice, from welcoming Her Royal Highness, the Princess Royal, to officially open the Bedded Unit in 2006 to leading the biggest donor networking campaign in support of The Long House, which opened in 2015.
“I feel so proud and so blessed to have been part of this organisation for the last 34 years.” said Lady Arran. “It’s been an absolute privilege to be involved and watch the development of these extraordinary facilities that have been so needed. I want to say a heartfelt thanks to all the staff and volunteers whom I have met here over the years. They’re so vital to the way the hospice runs in every department, so I would like to thank them and pay huge tribute. They are the true heroes and heroines of North Devon Hospice.”
To find out more about the vital work of the hospice or make a donation, visit: https://www.northdevonhospice.org.uk/