2 July 2021
A garden created to honour Captain Sir Tom Moore at the Princess Royal Hospital (PRH) in Telford will be unveiled on 5 July – the day the NHS celebrates its 73rd birthday.
An unused courtyard has been transformed into a haven for rest and reflection for staff at the Trust as well as patients and visitors.
It has been landscaped and features seating pods, private areas, lighting and flower beds with curved willow fences. It has been named Captain Tom’s Courtyard to recognise his incredible fundraising efforts for the NHS during the pandemic.
The garden was designed by scientist Emma Mayho, who works in the cardio-respiratory department across both sites; and who is also currently studying for her Royal Horticultural Society exams. Emma entered and won a competition hosted by the Shropshire Star to re-design the area, which was sponsored by Reconomy, the UK’s leading provider of outsourced waste and resource management services based in Telford.
A garden is also being created outside the Ward Block at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (RSH) where work got under way this week, and which will be called Captain Tom’s Garden. It is expected to be completed later this summer.
Artists Impression of RSH garden
The official opening of Captain Tom’s Courtyard will coincide with the national NHS Big Tea – which is being held to mark the 73rd birthday of the NHS.
Julia Clarke, Director of Corporate Services and Director responsible for SaTH Charity, said: “Each year on 5 July, the birthday of the NHS, we celebrate our amazing staff and volunteers – so it is fitting that it should be the date that we officially open a garden to celebrate Captain Tom who did so much to say thank you to the NHS.
“The garden is a wonderful area of beauty for staff to enjoy a break and our patients and their families. It has been made possible thanks to a generous donation from Reconomy and a grant from NHS Charities Together, with support from CLC Construction Ltd and our teams in Estates.
For the NHS Big Tea, organised by NHS Charities Together, SaTH Charity is sending refreshments to staff across the organisation.
Julia said: “It is a small way to say thank you to everyone who joined the battle against COVID-19 and supported our patients in what is probably the greatest challenge the NHS has ever faced.”
Anyone can join the national NHS Big Tea and help raise money for NHS staff who’ve done so much to help everyone get through the pandemic. If you would like to get involved, please visit www.sath.nhs.uk/about-us/charity/nhs-big-tea-nhs-73rd-birthday or email sath.charity@nhs.net