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Our History

Brendoncare was formed in 1984 by Winchester GP, Sir Ronald Gibson, a champion of the rights of older people. Convinced they were often let down by the institutions that looked after them, he pioneered the idea of tailoring the full range of care to fit the changing needs of individuals – always offering care with discretion and dignity. Today, these principles guide all our work.

Please click here to download a copy of Brendoncare’s Silver Anniversary brochure which details the history and includes many photographs.

The beginnings

1970s

The beginnings:

Mrs Phoebe Bacon invited ageing friends to live with her in her home in Winchester so that they could continue to enjoy companionship and look after each other. As time went by and some of the friends needed more help, Mrs Bacon’s niece, Sue Everitt, and Sir Ronald Gibson built a nursing wing, so that the residents would not have to move when nursing care became necessary. The house was called Brendon, named after the Brendon Hills in Somerset, and thus Brendoncare was born.

1970s

The 1980s:

1984

14th February 1984:

The Brendoncare Foundation was incorporated in London. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother took up the role of Patron.

1984

1985

1985:

Brendoncare Woodhayes Opened

1985

1986

1986:

1986:Brendoncare The Old Parsonage in Otterbourne opened. Land at Froxfield, Wiltshire was donated for the building of a new home.

1986

1987

1987:

Brendoncare Froxfield was opened in 1987 by the Duchess of Gloucester.Old Parsonage Court in Otterbourne was completed with 22 flats and bungalows allowing residents to live in their own property across the lawn from the main home. Nursing household was added to The Old Parsonage and Woodhayes.

1987

The 1990s:

1991

1991:

Brendoncare Ronald Gibson House opened in Tooting, London. Brendoncare Chiltern View near Aylesbury, supporting people living with dementia, was built.

1991

1992

1992:

Ron Staker took over as Chief Executive.

1992

1996

1996:

Brendoncare Alton opened, offering apartments on the campus of a nursing home.

1996

The 2000s:

2002

2002:

Following the sad death of The Queen Mother in March, HRH The Countess of Wessex became our new Patron.

2002

2003

2003:

HRH The Countess of Wessex opened the new dementia household and daycare centre at Ronald Gibson House.

2003

2004

2004:

Brendoncare Stildon was opened by HRH The Countess of Wessex.

2004

2006

2006:

Club Hampshire, a charity tackling social isolation among older people by running regular friendship clubs, merged into Brendoncare to create Brendoncare Clubs.

2006

2007

2007:

Brendoncare Knightwood in Chandlers Ford was opened by HRH The Countess of Wessex. The club model was extended with the start of Club Dorset and Club Bournemouth & Poole.

2007

2008

2008:

The number of Brendoncare homes rose to 10 through two mergers; first with Brendon Nursing Trust (now known as Brendoncare Park Road), and later with Meadway, another Phoebe Bacon home also in Winchester.

2008

2010s:

2014

2014:

Brendoncare celebrated 30 years of supporting older people across the South. Carole Sawyers took over as Chief Executive.

2014

2015

2015:

The number of Brendoncare clubs reached 80. Brendoncare Clubs launched a range of weekend clubs, as loneliness extends beyond Monday to Friday.