Following a huge fundraising campaign and many supporting events, Edward Hain Memorial Hospital has been saved for the community.
Thank you: Edward Hain Memorial Hospital is saved for the community
A big crowd gathered at the site on Wednesday to celebrate the news. Mayor Kirsty Arthur and councillors were in attendance, along with campaigners and fundraisers, raising a cheer and waving placards for that evening’s BBC Spotlight.
The League of Friends of the former Edward Hain Memorial Hospital have been working with the people of St Ives and beyond for many years to save the property.
The purchase has a little way to go with £70,000 to complete the deal. Some £630,000 has been raised through a variety of events, from sales to quizzes and balls, and a £320,000 mortgage has been secured. The purchase price is £1,020,000, as agreed by NHS Property Services.
Lynne Isaacs, secretary of the Friends of Edward Hain Hospital, said: “All of you have believed that our ambition of turning this historic, redundant hospital into a health and wellbeing centre for the people of St Ives was achieveable, and have demonstrated that in a way that is truly humbling.
“And so, after a rollercoaster nine months from the start of our big fundraising push, we can now announce that, finally, we have an agreed price with NHS Property Services. And that price is £1,020,000.
Lynne Isaacs, secretary of the Friends of Edward Hain Hospital, and St Ives mayor Kirsty Arthur
“We have funds in place to make this a reality, but we need an extra £70,000 to make this more comfortable. So today we are launching a Go Fund Me appeal and we hope that you will share this with your friends and family.”
She thanks a long list of people who had helped with the campaing, including the mayor and town council, town clerk Louise Dwelly, MP Derek Thomas, the Friends committee, and, of course, the people of St Ives.
Derek Thomas said: “To have secured the Edward Hain Community Hospital for St Ives and the wider community is a great achievement and speaks to the tenacity, commitment, and vision of the volunteers, and the generosity of St Ives over many years.
“I’m inspired by them and look forward to this site meeting a range of health and care needs for the community, exactly as was intended from the outset.”
Ideas for the new era of the building include:
- Support for all ages
- Health clinics and service
- Mental health support
- Food and nutrition support
- League of Friends room and café
- Meeting and other spaces to hire
There will be more discussion about this at a public meeting to be held at the St Ives Theatre next Thursday, 15th Setember, from 7pm until 9pm.
Donations continue to be accepted towards the purchase. You can visit the campaign’s Go Fund Me page, send money direct via bank transfer (account number 23582604, sort code 20-45-45), or write a cheque and post it to League of Friends of Edward Hain Memorial Hospital, 1A Bedford Road, St Ives TR26 1SP.
A choral celebration
To mark the occasion, St Ives Community Choir, under musical director William Thomas, gave a performance of a special Edward Hain song, to the tune of the often-performed Carbis Bay Song. Here are the lyrics, as tweaked by William:
The building here beside us is a very special one
It used to be a hospital so loved by everyone
Now many folk have given of their time and money too
Ensuring that the building is retained for me a you
Donated by a family who lived here in St Ives
This was a place of healing that has saved so many lives
But when it ’twas redundant it became a crying shame
But now we hope to fund the purchase of the Edward Hain
Now many groups and people have worked hard and this is why
To raise a lot of finances, the premises to buy
We’re grateful to each one of you and this is why we say
To one and all a very thankful hip hip hip hooray!
CHORUS
Here we are outside the place they call the Edward Hain
Never mind the weather, if it’s sun or rain
Starlings on the chimney pot and gulls upon the sea
All this way we’ve come today the Edward Hain to see
