Much Wenlock battles care home closure

One day, about a fortnight ago, the residents of the Lady Forester Community Nursing Home in Much Wenlock were told that the home was in all probability going to be closed.

Their reactions spoke volumes.

"When they broke the news to my auntie she took to her bed for three days," says Tony Hayward, who lives in nearby Kenley.

"You have to remember that to all intents and purposes it's their home and now they feel they are being evicted.

"It's the same with the others. Some of them hardly said a word for two or three days and there is a lot of confusion and distress."

Mr Hayward has been visiting his aunt since she was admitted to the home 18 months ago.

He continues: "She has liked it there; there is absolutely nothing wrong with the standard of care and nursing.

"Not only would the current residents have to be moved, possibly several miles away - which would cause huge upset in all sorts of ways - but the town would be losing a service, which I think would be regretted enormously.

"It would be a total tragedy for the people of Much Wenlock if it was to go but, having been to some of the meetings at the town council, I know that the local people feel incredibly strongly about this."

Indeed they do. Anger, worry, upset and frustration are just some of the emotions which surround the issue.

But there is also hope, because in a town usually noted for its tranquillity, when the people of Much Wenlock get together over a cause they are passionate about they can make one hell of a noise.

This is precisely what's happening at the moment as the town's residents are uniting to fight tooth and nail to save the home.

Several were born there when the hospital had a maternity unit and so, incidentally, was Dame Norma Major, wife of ex Prime Minister John Major.

Valued

Understandably, they see it as one of the town's most valued services - and it always has been, ever since it was built as a cottage hospital from the legacy left by the then Lady Forester, Mary Ann.

The situation now is this: the current owner of the home, the ExtraCare Charitable Trust, has announced that it may have to close the home for financial reasons, and has been in consultation with property developers over its purchase.

It is not a done deal - yet - and certainly not if the growing numbers of people campaigning for its survival have anything to do with it.

There are umpteen members of the community who are working like mad behind the scenes, one of whom is Catherine, Lady Forester.

Lady Forester lives at nearby Willey Park, and among her many commitments is chairing the Lady Forester Trust, now a charitable trust serving the people of Shropshire but historically closely associated with the hospitals of Much Wenlock and Broseley.

"Now, the only real connection between the home and the Forester family is in name," she explains.

"However, we share others' love of and commitment to the facility, and we are all appalled at the prospect that a home which was given to the people of Much Wenlock, for the people of Much Wenlock, by one of my late husband's ancestors, could be taken away.

"We want to see what can be done. While we appreciate that running the home as a viable business is not easy, we want to explore every avenue possible to ensure its continuation.

"After all, when the home - or cottage hospital as it was then - was given to the newly formed NHS at the end of the 1940s, it was done on the basis that it would be run as a medical service for people of the area in perpetuity.

"With planning proposals to build hundreds more homes in place, the need for nursing facilities in the town is greater than ever.

"What is absolutely crucial is that the people of Much Wenlock use every means possible to show their support for its survival - it can be achieved."

They see it not only as the potential loss of a hugely valuable service but also as a part of the community which for over a century has provided a focus, a point of pride.

It is also part of the town's character and make-up, and Wenlock folk are not prepared to see it go the same way as so many village schools and pubs have in recent years.

No one knows the home and its history better than Val Roberts.

Mrs Roberts was born there 67 years ago and worked there in an administrative role for 18 years, both when it was a hospital and latterly as a care home.

This lifelong resident of Much Wenlock has also written a definitive history of the facility, The Story of Much Wenlock Cottage Hospital.

"I just feel very sad about the whole thing," she says.

"Every time the community has needed it, it has been there.

"When you think of the long-term vision of Lady Forester at the very end of the 19th century - that it should provide care for local people - and now it is in very danger of being taken away, how short-sighted is that?

"I just hope everything is done to ensure that the home will remain open as a vibrant place for people to live in and feel safe."

• A public meeting has been organised at Priory Hall for Friday July 9, at 6pm, and local MP Philip Dunne has agreed to chair it.