Blythe House Hospice is gearing up to celebrate its 35th anniversary in 2024.
The hospice came from humble beginnings, from its first location at 137 Manchester Road in Chapel-en-le-Frith (a residential home next door to Whitestones Care Home), to the purpose-built building on Eccles Fold where it stands today.
Work on the facility we know today began back in 1998 on the site of a former workhouse.
Trevor Gilman, an experienced project manager and keen historian from Buxton, was employed by the hospice’s board of trustees to keep them informed about the building’s development.
Trevor had spent the 1960s studying engineering and the 1970s studying building construction, culminating in a decision in 1978 to open his own design practice offering a design and management service in both disciplines.
His first major project was for a complete factory for the Dutch Maid Company who had outgrown their premises in Tideswell and acquired land for a new building at Fairfield.
Through this work, Trevor met Ann Gutteridge a Buxton solicitor (a close friend of hospice founder, Reverend Betty Packham), and this was how he came to be involved in the hospice build project.
Trevor explained: ‘It was my job to look after the trustees’ interests, and keep them informed about what was going on, on site. I worked closely with David Close (former volunteer chief executive of the hospice), and would liaise closely with the architect, David Darbyshire in Newcastle, building inspectors and structural engineers.
‘I made sure that everything was going to plan and nothing was in the wrong place; I’d flag up problems and look after the interests of everyone involved. I’d report back to the architect and trustees on a weekly basis to keep them up to date on progress.
‘It was an exciting project – one of the most interesting in a long and varied career. As a result, I still support Blythe House when I can, through the charity shops and making donations from time to time.’
This carousel of photos was taken by Trevor throughout the construction of the hospice building.
If you have any memories or photographs of the hospice throughout the years, we’d be delighted to hear from you. Please email: communications@blythehouse.co.uk.
