The Foundation Stone has been laid at Phyllis Tuckwell’s new Hospice in Farnham, recognising the involvement of the Tuckwell family in the organisation’s history and marking the beginning of a new era for this vital local charity.
The new Hospice is being built on the site of the former building and will support patients who are living with an advanced or terminal illness, such as cancer. It will include an 18-bed In-Patient Unit for patients who need symptom management or are in their last days of life. Support programmes, therapy sessions and carers’ groups will be held in its Living Well and rehabilitation suites for those who need help earlier in their illness, and private rooms will offer space for counselling sessions and individual appointments. The Hospice will also act as a base for Phyllis Tuckwell’s Hospice at Home team, who visit patients at home and in care homes during their illness and in their last days. Due to open in spring next year, the new Hospice will enable Phyllis Tuckwell to offer its specialist palliative and end of life care to many more people in West Surrey and North-East Hampshire who need its help.
Chris Tuckwell, president of Phyllis Tuckwell and son of Sir Edward and Phyllis, was accompanied by his wife Philippa and their children Michael and Helen at the Hospice site to celebrate the laying of the Foundation Stone. They were joined by Phyllis Tuckwell’s chief executive Sarah Church, chair of the Trustees Dr Robert Laing, previous chair Allan Smith and his wife Angela, and members of Phyllis Tuckwell’s Senior Leadership Team.
“The Foundation Stone is a wonderful and fitting tribute to the Tuckwell family, which recognises their role in establishing our Hospice Care charity and supporting its ongoing work,” said Sarah Church. “As the new Hospice nears its completion, we look back at how Sir Edward and Yvonne Dale’s vision for a place where local terminally ill patients could be cared for first became a reality, and how the care we provide has developed over the years. We thank Chris for his involvement since Sir Edward died, as chair of the board and then as president, and we look forward to the next phase in our important journey in caring for those who need our specialist support.”
The Foundation Stone is located midway up the wall at the entrance to the Hospice and will be seen by all visitors as they enter and leave the building. The new Hospice is due to open in spring 2026.
Image: Chris Tuckwell, president of Phyllis Tuckwell and son of Sir Edward and Phyllis, with chief executive Sarah Church and chair of the trustees Dr Robert Laing.
