Lord-Lieutenant of Cornwall, Colonel Sir Edward Bolitho KCVO OBE, has become patron of the Edward Hain Centre, in St Ives.
Lord-Lieutenant of Cornwall, Colonel Sir Edward Bolitho KCVO OBE
The appointment holds special significance, reflecting the historical business connection between Sir Edward’s family and the Hain legacy.
From as far back as 150 years ago, the Bolitho family mining and banking businesses had strong connections with the Edward Hain shipping line, which in 1919 funded the purchase of the building that now houses the Edward Hain Centre.
Originally a private home, the building was converted into a hospital founded in memory of Captain Edward ‘Teddy’ Hain, who died at Gallipoli in 1915. The Edward Hain Memorial Hospital served the community for almost a century before closing in December 2020.
Following a remarkable fundraising campaign, the local community saved the historic building from development, and in 2023 the Edward Hain Centre was established as a community health and wellbeing hub, serving St Ives and surrounding areas. The Lord Lieutenant attended its opening in September that year, and has continued to take an interest in its development over the past three years.
Today, the centre provides a growing range of clinical and preventative services across all ages and demographics, as well as community activities and support for local organisations. The St Ives Foodbank is also based at the centre as a strategic partner.
“It is a real pleasure and privilege for Col Sir Edward Bolitho to become a patron of the Edward Hain Centre,” said the Cornwall Lieutenancy Instagram account. It described the Edward Hain Centre as “a fantastic organisation making a real difference through healthcare and wellbeing, supporting the St Ives Foodbank, and preserving a valuable piece of local history”.
Centre director Sharron Goldingay said: “Having the Lord-Lieutenant of Cornwall as our patron is a tremendous honour. When he visited the centre recently, our chair, Lynne Isaacs, and I were able to show him not only the progress we have made since we opened, of which we’re incredibly proud, but also share our ambitions for its growing role in the community.
“We are hopeful that Sir Edward’s association with the centre will help us build new relationships and raise awareness of the contribution community organisations can make across Cornwall.”
