Plaque unveiled at cancer centre

Left, Jane Harris from The Morgan Foundation and Clare Horton from Redrow present a plaque to Julie Mayers from Macmillan while Gavin Cooper from construction firm Redrow looks on

APLAQUE has been installed at a cancer centre’s courtyard at Halton General Hospital.

Three years ago, the space at the Macmillan Delamere Support And Information Service in Runcorn was transformed through a group of university students on work placements undertaking a volunteer project.

The aim was to breathe new life into the courtyard at Halton General Hospital and the students, on placements with housebuilder Redrow, undertook work and sourced materials such as planters and gravel.

Almost three years on to the day that the new courtyard opened to patients at the centre, Redrow’s trainee programmes manager Clare Horton, returned to deliver the commemorative plaque and see the fruits of the students’ labour.

Clare, who oversaw the original makeover, said: “It was fantastic to return and see how much of a difference the garden has made to patients using the centre and how it’s matured.

“It’s not often that we have the opportunity to revisit a project such as this and hear from staff members at the centre about how well-loved and used the courtyard area is.

“A highlight of my visit was seeing a group of ducklings and their mother, who have made the area their home!”

The project was undertaken in partnership with the Morgan Foundation.

Bev Collins, Macmillan’s support and information manager, added: “We’re so grateful that Redrow came up with the initial idea to revamp the garden.

“It’s really made the difference between it being a tidy space to it being somewhere fantastic for people to enjoy.

“It’s really well used by both patients and staff and everyone comments on how lovely it is.

“It’s now a mature garden and we were delighted to welcome Clare back to see its progress.”