BUILDING work started yesterday on the special Maison de Quetteville dementia care home. The Guernsey Press launched the Maison Million Home Appeal in April to help raise the £1m. needed for work to start on the 29-bed unit that will be connected to Maison L’Aumone.
The fund-raising total currently stands at £618,800 but because the directors of the project are confident the £1m. target will be reached, they agreed to act as guarantor for the difference to enable this vital work to begin now.
‘The directors of the project consider the figure raised so far to be a magnificent effort, for which they wish to thank everyone who has contributed,’ said Maison L’Aumone chairman Paul Le Boutillier. ‘A significant proportion of the sum has come as a result of the Guernsey Press Maison Million Appeal.’
Contractor R. G. Falla had asked to clear the site in late November in order to take advantage of the good weather and it was feared by the project’s organisers that waiting for the £1m. target to be reached could have pushed up the cost of the development.
‘There was a likelihood of an increase in the cost if work did not commence before the year ended, so the directors explored ways of finding the amount still needed to make a start,’ Mr Le Boutillier explained.
‘They were confident that the target would be reached in the not too distant future and together the directors pledged to provide the shortfall while fund-raising continued.’
A ceremony was held yesterday to mark the occasion, with Garry Dayes and Gavin Hamilton, of Barclays Private Clients International, who were both instrumental in securing the long-term loan required to fund the project, asked to drive a steel pin into the foundations.
Guernsey Press editor Richard Digard had been asked to operate the rig to start pile-driving work, but was unable to attend because he was at the funeral of former colleague Cathy Kalamis.
‘I was very sorry not to have been there, but am nonetheless delighted that work has begun on this hugely important project that we and so many readers have been backing,’ said Mr Digard.
‘The Guernsey Press has supported the need for this new dementia care facility through the Maison Million Appeal and we continue to do so.
‘I hope the start of building work on the unit will show islanders how their terrific support has made this possible and encourage them to continue raising money for Maison de Quetteville.’
Mr Le Boutillier said he was delighted building work was now under way.
‘It is the beginning of the fulfilment of a vision the directors had some 10 years ago when some of us visited an Alzheimer’s/dementia home run by Methodist Homes in the UK,’ he said.
‘It has been a long and hard road to get to this point.
‘The public have been very generous and I truly hope they will continue giving to the project to help us realise this first-rate facility for sufferers of this sad and distressing disease.
‘Any one of us or our family might be in need of such care in the future.’
Loading ...
Share this article:
What are these?