Olympic gold medallist marks £12.6m naval care home milestone
Sailing hero’s exclusive tour
AN OLYMPIC sailing hero was the guest of honour marking the latest milestone in the development of a new £12.6m care home for naval veterans.
Gold medallist Eilidh McIntyre was given an exclusive tour of the Admiral Jellicoe House site in Locksway Road, Milton.
The 66-bed facility has been in development since the beginning of 2021 and is now almost finished.
Marking the achievement, Eilidh – who clinched her victory in the 470 sailing class alongside Hannah Mills in the delayed Tokyo 2020 – took part in the traditional ‘topping-out ceremony’.
Speaking of the new site, the Hampshire-based athlete told The News: ‘I was so pleased to be asked to attend this major milestone in this fabulous project to support naval veterans in Portsmouth.
‘Admiral Jellicoe House will be a superb home with great facilities, and it was great to see it taking shape and to give my very best wishes for the successful conclusion of the project.’
The multi-million pound development will by run by the Royal Navy Benevolent
Trust (RNBT) and has the backing of former First Sea Lord and current head of Britain’s armed forces, Admiral Tony Radakin.
Commander Rob Bosshardt, chief executive of the
RNBT, said: ‘It was a great privilege to have gold medallist Eilidh share this important moment in the life of the project with us.
‘As a sailor she has empathy for those who have served our nation at sea, and the need to provide the best possible care for them.’
The topping-out ceremony comes after a challenging development process, which has been plagued by planning delays and hampered by the coronavirus pandemic.
Despite the challenging start, progress with the building has been ‘impressive’, a spokeswoman for the RNBT said.
The roof is now finished and the fitting out of internal structures and care home’s landscaped gardens is expected to be completed early next year.
Captain Nick Fletch, chairman of trustees at the RNBT, was delighted by the building’s progress.
He added: ‘Admiral Jellicoe
House will be a care home of superb quality that will further increase our support for naval veterans in Portsmouth by meeting the residential care needs of those who have served their country in peace and war.
‘This is great news for naval veterans and for the city of Portsmouth. We are on track for opening in spring next year.’
The care home is being developed by construction firm LNT.
Admiral Jellicoe House will be a superb home with great facilities.
Eilidh McIntyre