Dr Mindbender
27th March 2009, 01:51
:cursing:
''The Royal Hospital Chelsea, home to 300 famous, scarlet-coated Chelsea Pensioners will today 25th March 2009, welcome HRH The Prince of Wales, Patron of the Chelsea Pensioners’ Appeal, and Baroness Thatcher, (a long time friend and supporter of the RHC) for the opening of the new Margaret Thatcher Infirmary.
The Prince will formally open the new building and tour the wards, state-of-the-art physiotherapy centre, medical centre, hydrotherapy pool, social areas and gymnasium, where he will meet In-Pensioners, staff and volunteers. The Prince will then accompany Baroness Thatcher as she unveils her portrait by Michael Noakes.
The Governor, General the Lord Walker GCB CMG CBE DL thanked the 8,000 private donors whose generosity made this building possible. “As The Royal Hospital Chelsea is not owned by the government, we can only provide a fitting home and community for The Chelsea Pensioners through supporters’ gifts, which enable major development programmes of this sort. We are delighted that His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales and Baroness Thatcher, were able to mark this historic occasion in the life of The Royal Hospital. The Prince of Wales’ support as Patron of our Appeal is invaluable and Baroness Thatcher has long been a friend and supporter of the Hospital,” said the Governor.
The Royal Hospital Chelsea is proud that the Margaret Thatcher Infirmary was built on time and to budget. It has been widely hailed as one of the most beautiful buildings erected in London for many years and sits comfortably alongside Wren’s great masterpiece. “The Royal Hospital Chelsea was built to last and has been caring for old and infirm veterans for over 300 years. The Margaret Thatcher Infirmary has similarly been built to last and is an investment that will enable us to care for our veterans for the next 300 years,” commented the Governor.
The lead architects were Steffian Bradley Architects (SBA) who were also responsible for the interior, while the exterior of the Infirmary was designed by architect Quinlan Terry to be sympathetic in style to the original Wren architecture of the rest of the Hospital.
Completion of the 125-bed Margaret Thatcher Infirmary marks the end of Phase I of the Royal Hospital’s development programme. In Phase II the emphasis shifts to modernising the historic Long Wards in which the majority of pensioners live in conditions Wren would recognise. The Royal Hospital has already begun to raise funds for this essential project.
The completion of the Infirmary has enabled the Royal Hospital Chelsea to open its doors to women for the first time, although this will be their temporary home until the refurbishment of the historic Long Wards has been achieved.''
http://www.responsesource.com/releases/rel_display.php?relid=46544
''The Royal Hospital Chelsea, home to 300 famous, scarlet-coated Chelsea Pensioners will today 25th March 2009, welcome HRH The Prince of Wales, Patron of the Chelsea Pensioners’ Appeal, and Baroness Thatcher, (a long time friend and supporter of the RHC) for the opening of the new Margaret Thatcher Infirmary.
The Prince will formally open the new building and tour the wards, state-of-the-art physiotherapy centre, medical centre, hydrotherapy pool, social areas and gymnasium, where he will meet In-Pensioners, staff and volunteers. The Prince will then accompany Baroness Thatcher as she unveils her portrait by Michael Noakes.
The Governor, General the Lord Walker GCB CMG CBE DL thanked the 8,000 private donors whose generosity made this building possible. “As The Royal Hospital Chelsea is not owned by the government, we can only provide a fitting home and community for The Chelsea Pensioners through supporters’ gifts, which enable major development programmes of this sort. We are delighted that His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales and Baroness Thatcher, were able to mark this historic occasion in the life of The Royal Hospital. The Prince of Wales’ support as Patron of our Appeal is invaluable and Baroness Thatcher has long been a friend and supporter of the Hospital,” said the Governor.
The Royal Hospital Chelsea is proud that the Margaret Thatcher Infirmary was built on time and to budget. It has been widely hailed as one of the most beautiful buildings erected in London for many years and sits comfortably alongside Wren’s great masterpiece. “The Royal Hospital Chelsea was built to last and has been caring for old and infirm veterans for over 300 years. The Margaret Thatcher Infirmary has similarly been built to last and is an investment that will enable us to care for our veterans for the next 300 years,” commented the Governor.
The lead architects were Steffian Bradley Architects (SBA) who were also responsible for the interior, while the exterior of the Infirmary was designed by architect Quinlan Terry to be sympathetic in style to the original Wren architecture of the rest of the Hospital.
Completion of the 125-bed Margaret Thatcher Infirmary marks the end of Phase I of the Royal Hospital’s development programme. In Phase II the emphasis shifts to modernising the historic Long Wards in which the majority of pensioners live in conditions Wren would recognise. The Royal Hospital has already begun to raise funds for this essential project.
The completion of the Infirmary has enabled the Royal Hospital Chelsea to open its doors to women for the first time, although this will be their temporary home until the refurbishment of the historic Long Wards has been achieved.''
http://www.responsesource.com/releases/rel_display.php?relid=46544