Hospice marks 40 years of '˜a strong emotional bond with Northampton'

Cynthia Spencer Hospice - Whitehills Primary School pupils sing happy birthday on hospice's 40th birthday and tree planting by High Street Minister Marcus Jones NNL-160429-151001009

The hospice was opened by the Queen Mother on May 7, 1976.

An event in the hospice’s woodland yesterday saw Marcus Jones MP, a junior Government minister, and Michael Ellis MP plant a tree with Whitehills Primary pupils singing Happy Birthday.

As well as the care for people in their last days at the Kettering Road site, there is now also a Hospice at Home service, which is something not envisaged when a single building was opened four decades ago.

Mr Ellis, whose Aunt Diana spent her final days at the hospice, said: “It’s a centre of excellence, really. All of the staff here give a thoroughly excellent service.

“There are very few people in the town who have not had some relative or friend benefit from that care.

“There is a very strong emotional bond between Cynthia Spencer hospice and the town itself.”