A luxury care home in the heart of Hereford has been officially unveiled by former SAS hero Bob Curry – with more than 150 people attending the ceremony.
With such close ties to the area following years of training at Hereford’s SAS headquarters, Curry was the perfect man to lead the opening of Brockington House. There are nods and tributes to the area’s rich SAS heritage throughout the home, which he was delighted to see.
Part of the infamous siege on the Iranian embassy in London in 1980, Curry was the first man to enter, using a sledgehammer to access the building after an explosive failed to go off. The death-defying mission saved the lives of 19 hostages.
“I’ve had a tour of the home and wow, what a place this is,” he said.
“I love the individuality, the entertainment room and how the home pays tribute to the regiment. What a place.”
The home has a 70-bedroom capacity and has been professionally designed with the finest attention to detail, offering residents a stunning new home with practical elements subtly incorporated. No expense has been spared on entertainment, with an onsite gym, bar, cinema, café, activities lounge and an in-house chef. It also has specially designed dementia-friendly areas.
CEO of Dormy Care Communities, Helen Davies-Parsons, says: “We had our soft opening nine weeks ago and we already have a 10/10 rating on carehome.co.uk, which puts us top throughout Herefordshire.
"It’s an amazing testament to the high level of care we provide and the amount of thought that has gone into designing Brockington House. It’s a beautiful place to live or visit your loved ones, we’re so proud to deliver such a high level of care.”
In the run up to the official opening, Dormy Care Communities had asked members of the public to nominate worthy winners for their Local Unsung Hero award.
Lynne Hodgman, who goes above and beyond within her neighbourhood to help and care for elderly and less able people, was unveiled as the winner. She was presented with a specially made award and a bouquet of flowers by home director of Brockington House, Shann Thomas. Dormy Care Communities has also made a donation to a charity of Lynne’s choice.
Hodgman says: “I’m so honoured to win the award. I love to play a small part in such an amazing home. As the daughter of the first resident here – my life, as well as my mother’s, has been absolutely transformed.
"My mum will be 100 next month – when you have an ageing parent and you worry constantly about her care, it has a huge effect on you. Deciding to move mum at 99 was a huge thing to do – but coming here and seeing what they do, it was a complete no-brainer. The facilities are amazing. It’s like a five star hotel with Michelin-star dining, but it’s also more than that. It’s all about the people – every single one, from the housekeeping to carers, are brilliant.”
Dormy Care Communities operates three additional care homes across the country; Abergavenny, Dorset and Hampshire.
