His Excellency, the Lieutenant-Governor, Lieutenant General Richard Cripwell CB, CBE, became the Patron of Les Bourgs last year and made his first official visit on Friday (24th January).
A tour of the charity shop and the Hospice itself was included as part of the visit. Briefing the media following the tour, His Excellency said “I’m delighted, honored, to be a part.
“This is a remarkable place. I mean, it’s a unique facility in Guernsey, the only one that provides palliative care, which is an essential part of the health system here in Guernsey, and provides that care with remarkable love and feeling and professionalism, not just for the people who are here, but for their families as well.”
Les Bourgs provides hospice care for Guernsey residents and relies entirely on public support; fundraising, donations & dedicated volunteers, to provide care around the clock. The amount of work, and the passion and dedication needed to provide such services was made evident.
Pictured; His Excellency, the Lieutenant-Governor, Lieutenant General Richard Cripwell CB, CBE, speaking to the islands media following his tour of Les Bourgs.
His Excellency continued, “To see is to believe. People are, I think, aware of Les Bourgs on the island. They’re very generous in the donations that they make to the shop, and indeed, buying things from the shop, but to come here to feel the love and the warmth that runs through this place, to talk to the staff that do so much to support those that are here, who provide a level of care that is frankly extraordinary, and who increasingly go out in the community to support people who’d rather be at home. Is something very special. As I said, palliative care is important. It makes a difference, and seeing it firsthand is a really important thing, I think.”
Pictured; Les Bourgs is entirely community funded, meaning the need for public support is always strong.
Rob Jones, is the Chief Executive at Les Bourgs, “It’s the opportunity that we had to show our new patron what we’re about, and that extends from the charity shop, where we do a significant part of our fundraising, but not all of that through to the way we operate here at the hospice on the ward in particular, which is the most important part, and giving His Excellency an opportunity to to meet the team and get a feel for the place and our culture and and really what what we’re up against.”
Mr Jones was present for the tour and as His Excellency briefed the islands media, hearing exactly what impact the tour had made.
“I felt a huge sense of pride, because you see a team that you work with on a daily basis through someone else’s eyes, and when you’ve got someone of his caliber who’s as complimentary about and as impressed as he has been, that means something. So (I’m) feeling very proud.”
Pictured; Rob Jones has been the CEO of Les Bourgs Hospice since October 2023.
Mr Jones also made it crystal clear just how vital the public support is when it comes to continuing the vital work that the Hospice takes on every day of the year.
“It’s essential. All our funding comes from the community. We’re running a hospital here, you know? It’s a clinical operation, but in addition to that, we’re providing bereavement counseling, we’re providing emotional support.
“It’s 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and this is a world class service that we provide here in Guernsey, and so we rely heavily on the community to keep that going.”
Les Bourgs Hospice gained royal approval after the then Prince of Wales agreed to become its patron back in 2013, a year after His Majesty opened the center. Since becoming King Charles III, His Majesty has had to review his patronages, and was unable to continue in the role.
(Image by by Tracey Bougourd) King Charles III, then the Prince of Wales, at the opening of Les Bourgs Hospice in July 2012.
In his stead, His Excellency, the Lieutenant-Governor, Lieutenant General Richard Cripwell CB, CBE, was asked to take over, which he says is a honour.
“I’m delighted. His Majesty was the patron when he was the Prince of Wales, I know that he would have wanted to continue to be so, but simply wasn’t able to. To be asked to stand in his stead. I may well be his representative on the island, but this is a different thing, and I know how much he valued les Bourgs. I know how much he appreciated the work that is done here, and I am genuinely honored to have a chance to follow Him as the patron and to do whatever I can to support.”