Frost Magazine, in particular its editor, Margaret Graham, who lives in Thirsk is constantly in awe of the achievements of this small but beautifully formed North Yorkshire market town which has the most wonderful community.
The Herriot name summons up, worldwide, All Creatures Great and Small, and other nostagic tales of veterinary help. Here in Thirsk – the home of author and vet James Herriot – we also have the wonderful Yorkshire Vets Julian Norton and Peter Wright, to continue the tradition of veterinary work, and gloriously evocative books. Not just this, but importantly we also have – roll of drums… Herriot Hospice Homecare: which is a charity that has delivered high quality help in the form of hospice care in people’s homes across Hambleton and Richmondshire for more than 30 years. They have excellent fundraising charity shops too.
Herriot Hospice Homecare is a service that all recognise is enormously important. Why? It enables terminally ill patients to remain where they feel most safe and comfortable, at home, 365 days a year.
Alongside the homecare service, though, it seems there is a need for specialist care at a hospice building, access to which, for families living across remote and rural communities, can be particularly difficult.
No sooner thought about, than done: Herriot’s first hospice building, Herrriot Hospice @ The Lambert will offer, when completed, inpatient care; emotional wellbeing and bereavement support rooms; an education centre, café, and community hub; and will provide an important base for the HOME service. The Lambert Memorial Hospital is much loved, and the area is thrilled to see it being brought back to life and continuing to be part of the fabric of the community, bringing inpatient hospice care closer to home.
Herriot Hospice@The Lambert has cost more than £1.7 m, and thanks to the remarkable support of the local community, this has now been raised. Further fundraising continues to make the hospice – due to open later this year – a safe, comfortable and welcoming space and to provide the expert care and support.
Construction work has begun and whether through a one off or regular donation, registering for all the latest updates or, if local, expressing your interest in volunteering, your help is very much needed ahead of Herriot Hospice@The Lambert opening in autumn 2023.
This is just such a wonderful endeavour, of which Thirsk is immensely proud, as it is of our tradition of fabulous author vets – is it something in the air that makes them so versatile?
https://www.herriothh.org.uk/support-our-work/donate/