Back in 1985 friends Pat Jeavons and Don Sturrock, who were living with cancer, recognised the need for a hospice for the people of Greenwich and Bexley.
They launched a fundraising campaign called ‘Give us a Quid’ and, spurred on by the support of the local community, they searched for a suitable location.
After a few disappointing negotiations that didn’t materialise, the Co-op offered up the site of the old Shornells Building on Bostall Hill in Abbey Wood and the land was purchased for just £1.
Building work started in October 1992 and the Community Hospice opened its doors in February 1994.
The furniture may have changed over the last 30 years, but our ethos hasn’t.
Pat and Don's vision was for the people of Greenwich and Bexley to have local expert care and support at the end of life. When Pat died in 1997 and Don died in 2002, both at the Community Hospice that they so lovingly built, they may never have imagined what the hospice has gone on to achieve. By 2010 we expanded our services to support people in hospital, in care homes and in their own homes, so that we could continue Pat and Don's vision. Today we strive to ensure that
everyone who is facing death, in Greenwich and Bexley, gets the support and care that they need to make their last days count. We support people to live as well as they can, for as long as they can. We can’t buy time, but we can make the time left matter.
Hospice timeline
Pat Jeavons and Don Sturrock launch the charity
Launch of 'Give Us A Quid' fundraising campaign
The Co-op offer a location for the Hospice
Building work commences
Arrival of the first people to attend the Day Hospice service
The first inpatients arrive
