History of St Richard’s Hospice
St Richard’s Hospice was founded in 1984 and is a local independent, Worcestershire charity. St Richard’s Hospice was set up in Droitwich, taking its name from Richard de la Wyche who was born there in 1197 and who was declared a Saint in 1262.
The hospice first started in the home of Dr Jenny Bulman before moving to Castle Street in Worcester. Home Care services started in 1984, followed by Day Hospice and the beginnings of an educational programme in 1988. As the organisation grew, so did the need for larger premises and the hospice moved to Rose Hill house in Worcester which was officially opened by Diana the Princess of Wales in May 1992.
In 2004 as hospice services continued to grow to meet demand, a £5.25m appeal was made to build a new centre with the first urgently needed specialist palliative care In-patient Unit for South Worcestershire. In 2006 the new St Richard’s Hospice opened in Wildwood Drive, Worcester.
The hospice continued to expand to meet the needs of the Worcestershire community, opening the Snowdrop Centre for Family Support work in 2011 and building additional bedrooms on the In-patient Unit.
A Build 2020 Appeal was launched to raise £5.3m to grow hospice care including the provision of a Living Well Centre. Work on the expansion and redevelopment was completed in 2021.
A major upgrade to the In-patient Unit was completed in 2024.
St Richard’s serves Worcestershire including Worcester, Malvern, Droitwich, Pershore, Upton upon Severn, Broadway, Evesham and the surrounding areas. We also care for patients from the north of the county in our In-patient Unit.
Thanks to funding from the Heritage Lottery, we have been able to record our oral history with about 40 hours of fascinating audio recordings; we’ve talked to nurses, doctors, administrators, fundraisers, volunteers, patients and family members.
The snowdrop in our logo
The snowdrop logo was inspired by The Snowdrop – Consolation by Bishop Keble 1792-1866
“I am come to calm your fears: I am come to console you in the absence of bright days, and to reassure you of their return.”
Snowdrops are also a symbol of hope, consolation and sympathy.
