Plea for Community Archive Materials

31 August 2016

Could you help to tell the incredible story of Highland Hospice?

An exciting Highland-wide search has been launched for documents and materials which will help to tell the story of Highland Hospice from its 1980s origins to the present day.

As the hospice prepares to open the doors of its brand new Inpatient Unit in Inverness in November, a group of volunteers have come together in a bid to create a lasting and ongoing legacy to the organisation which will eventually be held by the Highland Archive Centre, Inverness.

Led by retired archivist Colin Waller and Highland Hospice co-founder Cecilia Bottomley, the project team is looking for any materials that can help to tell the Hospice’s story - from the initial public meetings over 30 years ago which discussed the possibility of a palliative care provider in the Highlands - to the present day.

Cecilia Bottomley said, “The new Inpatient Unit has evoked a lot of memories for me and some of the other volunteers who have been a part of the hospice’s journey from the very beginning. We are looking for anything that tells the incredible story of the community spirit which helped to create the hospice initially and the ongoing public support which has kept it running as a charity for the past 30 years.”

She added, “There have been all sorts of wild and wonderful fundraising events over the years – each with the same aim of supporting Highland Hospice.  Hundreds of volunteers, businesses and community groups throughout the entire Highland area have played their own significant part in making the hospice the well-loved and respected palliative care provider it is now.

“Whether you have an original hippo collecting can, fundraising event ticket, poster or programme, a newspaper article, Highland Hospice badge or some photographs, I would be so grateful if you would consider gifting them to this fantastic Community Archive which will tell the story of the hospice for generations to come.”

Colin Waller said, “Any gift at all that we receive for our archive will be warmly appreciated. No record exists in isolation; everything that we receive will prompt the memory of other items and events which are of significance.”

He added, “Highland Hospice is a true pioneer with regard to the palliative care treatment and range of services it provides and how it cascades these services Highland-wide -particularly into remote rural areas. As a result, I see clear historic parallels between the Hospice and other significant institutions such as Highlands & Islands Medical Service and Craig Dunain.”

“This story needs to be told now, while the people and items involved are available, so please do help us if you can.”

If you have any original items to gift to the Highland Hospice Community Archive, please send them to ‘The Highland Hospice Archive Project’, Ness House, Bishops Road, Inverness, IV3 5SB along with your name, address and telephone number or email address.

Alternatively, you can email digital photographs to history@highlandhospice.org.uk

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