Prince salutes charity that cares for veterans
A CENTURY after its first resident arrived from the battlefields of France, a Salford charity for veterans has been given a Royal boost.
The Duke of York attended a service at Manchester Cathedral which celebrated the centenary of Broughton House – the charity which provides care for ex-servicemen and women.
As patron of Broughton House, he read a lesson from the Gospel of St Matthew.
The milestone was marked as the home is on the brink of being transformed into a new care village for veterans – one of only two in the country. In November the government announced a £3m cash injection for the project which will cost £10m.
The Libor grant from Whitehall, comes from the proceeds of banking fines, and will enable Broughton House bosses to get the ball rolling on the huge new scheme.
More than 800 people from across the region were at the Cathedral service including Warren Smith, the Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, and representatives from the Ministry of Defence.
After the service, The Duke met and chatted with veterans and staff from Broughton House.
The service was led by the Dean of Manchester, the Very Rev Rogers Govender, who paid tribute to the vision of Col Sir William Coates, a surgeon who established Broughton House in response to the casualties after the First World War and lack of hospital beds in the area. “Since the arrival of its first patient, Private Charlie Fox of the Fourth Kings Rifles, until this present day, Broughton House has continued to provide nursing and residential care for ex-service personnel from the Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force and Merchant Navy,” said the Dean.
“As we celebrate today, so we look back over those 100 years of love and care, being thankful for all that has gone before. We also look forward with anticipation and hope for the next stage in the history of Broughton House as new developments for its future start to take shape and become a reality.”