In November we welcomed local dignitaries and school pupils to the Centre to bury a time capsule to help celebrate our multi-million pound redevelopment scheme.
A replacement hip joint was among the many items sealed in the capsule and buried by members of the local community including Crowborough Mayor Kay Moss and pupils from nearby St John’s School.
Details of the Centre’s on-going redevelopment scheme, a history of the Centre and staff photos were placed in the capsule to give a snapshot of life at the hospital while school pupils put in their own artwork depicting how St John’s School might look in half a century.
The capsule will be opened in 50 years time, creating a fascinating insight into how things have changed at the Centre and throughout Crowborough.
Diane Thomas, Chief Executive of the Horder Centre, said: “Since being established almost 60 years ago, the Centre has evolved a great deal, and now future generations will be able to see how another half century has altered the Centre.
“Our redevelopment scheme has strengthened the Centre’s position as a UK centre of excellence for orthopaedic care, and we are immensely proud of what we have achieved.
“It was a pleasure to bring our local community together for the time capsule burial, and to share our passion for the care we provide.”
The Mayor, who placed a USB memory stick in the capsule containing the town council’s vision for Crowborough, said: “My first ever Mayoral duty was to attend an open day here at the Horder Centre two and a half years ago and things have changed a great deal since then, so it will be very interesting to see what has changed in 50 years.”
As part of the redevelopment, a state of the art physiotherapy gym has been created at the Centre, officially opened by former Olympic gold medallist Sally Gunnell OBE last month, together with a stunning new reception, coffee shop and outpatients consulting room suite.
Externally, a new therapeutic garden has been created to give patients another place to recuperate, and extra car parking spaces have been added.
The scheme, funded partly through charity events organised by the Centre, will also deliver a new admissions suite, a new day care centre and a new pre-admission assessment clinic.
The Priest-in-Charge of St John’s Church in Crowborough, who was unable to attend the time capsule burial, sent a special message, read by congregation member Miriam Penn. He said: “I would like to pay tribute to the work of the Horder Centre, and to what it does for our local community.”
(Caption for photo) Snapshot in time: Luke Garner (front right) from The Horder Centre is joined by Crowborough Mayor Kay Moss and pupils from St John’s School to bury a time capsule. Luciana Pettitt (8) (crct) from St John’s School puts in some artwork while the Mayor places a replacement hip joint in the capsule, watched by representatives from St John’s Church, fellow pupils and other Horder Centre Staff.
