Mid Norfolk Christian retirement home celebrates lift
Quebec Hall Christian retirement home near Dereham in Mid Norfolk held an official opening of their lift last month to celebrate and give thanks for the completion of a challenging construction project.
The Mayor of Dereham, Hilary Bushell was joined by her deputy Thomas Monument and Breckland District councillor and Cabinet member Alison Webb to cut a ribbon marking the opening of a new £180,000 lift at the town’s Quebec Hall Christian Retirement Home.
The official opening on Wednesday, July 19 marks the final chapter in a 16-month construction project which required an 18th century castle to be updated with a 21st century access facility.
Before taking a ceremonial ride in the lift Miss Bushell, acknowledged that progress of the project had been fraught with “ups and downs” due to the technical difficulties of marrying a modern lift tower to a listed building.
The four-storey Quebec Hall, or Quebec Castle as it was once known, is a landmark country house constructed in 1759 by a wealthy brewing family. It was established as a home for retired Christians in 1960 and now has 21 residents, plus an associated complex of 43 retirement bungalows.
The home offers residential and self-contained accommodation. The spiritual needs of residents take centre stage as well as physical care.
Welcoming civic guests, residents, staff, architect Kevin Garnham and representatives of Iceni Lifts, Colin Wooden, retiring chairman of Quebec Hall’s management trustees, said there were times when he wondered whether the project would ever be completed. Reading a Psalm of praise he thanked God that the plans had come to fruition – and that the necessary finance had been found.
Gifts from other charities, churches and individual well-wishers had been added to by a variety of fundraising initiatives by staff and residents – including photographic calendars, a book of poetry and sales of paintings produced by the home’s own art group.
The event concluded with a cream tea, during which Mr Wooden was presented with a framed photograph of the hall and gardening vouchers to mark his retirement from the Board of Trustees after 13 years service – a retirement he had delayed to see the lift project through to its conclusion.
The presentation was made by Mr Wooden’s successor as chairman, Mr Martin Boyce.
Click here to read more about Quebec Hall in this website.
Photo (L-R): Deputy Mayor Thomas Monument, retiring Chairman of Quebec Hall Colin Wooden, Councillor Alison Webb and Hilary Bushell, Mayor of Dereham
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