Our 25th Anniversary
Marking 25 years of hospice care in North Devon, 2009
Click here to read our special 25th anniversary newsletter, created Autumn 2009
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In September 1984, North Devon Hospice's very first nurse began caring for patients in their own homes. At the time, she covered the entire area on her own. Since those fledgling days, the hospice has expanded to meet the needs of the local community. We now have a team of 9 community nurses, a Day Hospice facility, an Emotional and Spiritual Support Team and a Bedded Unit. We currently care for over 100 local people every day suffering with the impact of a life-threatening illness.
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 (25th Anniversary logo for North Devon Hospice, 2009)
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However, the hospice would not be in this position without the generosity of the North Devon community. As the need for our services has increased, so has the amazing support given to us by the local population. This relationship has been key to the growth of the hospice - in our 25th year, we are here for and because of the community.
To mark our 25th anniversary, in 2009 we undertook a number of events designed to highlight the support that the community has given us, and the support we have been able to offer the community. The first of these took place on April 1st as we officially opened our new Community Orchard. The final tree of the orchard was planted by Lady Arran (our former president of 18 years) and the Rt Revd. Bob Evens, Bishop of Crediton (our current President). Representatives of the local community were invited to attend and be part of the ceremony, because our Community Orchard is named so to recognise the amazing support our community has given us throughout the years.
In July and September, we offered the whole of North Devon the chance to visit the hospice as we opened our gardens as part of the National Gardens Scheme. Over the weekends of July 11th & 12th and September 5th & 6th, our grounds were open to the public and hundreds of people came to join us - many of whom were visiting the hospice for the very first time.
We have also celebrated our anniversary with two other high-profile evnts. The first of which was a special Palliative Care Conference on September 4th which attracted nearly 200 delegates from all over the country. They were drawn by a world-class list of speakers - including Professor Karol Sikora, considered the world's leading authority on cancer. We also held a joint anniversary party across North Devon through our shops. On September 8th, all 11 of our shops held a party and a simultaneous cake-cutting to celebrate the very special role our shops have played in our success down the years.
Along with many other activities, such as a special edition newsletter and a series of case studies in the North Devon Journal, 2009 will certainly be one to remember for North Devon Hospice. Thanks to everyone from the local community who has made these years so special and we look forward to a long and bright future together.