Celebrations at Dereham Christian care complex

Quebec Hall, the Christian residential care home and bungalow complex in Dereham, celebrated its 65–year anniversary last weekend with an open day and special thanksgiving celebration.

Sixty-five years ago, a Christian businessman, David Potter, had a vision to provide accommodation for elderly missionaries retiring to the UK after a lifetime of service overseas. Last weekend’s celebrations marked the fulfilment of that vision.
 
Since 1960, the historic Quebec Hall, originally called Quebec Castle and built in 1759, has served as a charitable retirement complex. Today it provides full-time care for 22 residents in the main building, which is surrounded by 43 self-catering bungalows rented by more active retirees.
 
On Saturday 19 July residents of hall and bungalows, family members, staff, trustees and volunteers who have been associated with the successful operation of the complex in myriad ways over the years, gathered in two marquees erected in the estate’s mature grounds for the occasion, pictured right.
 
Guests among the 150 people present included the Mayor of Dereham Ray O’Callaghan and two daughters of David Potter, the local builder who had the original vision for both Quebec Hall and its sister complex, Eckling Grange, which is located in another part of town.
 
Guest speaker for the afternoon was Professor Sam Leinster, an ex-trustee of Quebec Hall who, prior to retiring and moving to the north-west, was Dean of the Medical School at the University of East Anglia. He gave a Bible address based on Nehemiah chapter 8 verse 10 – “The joy of the Lord is your strength.”
 
Reports were presented by the Chairman of Trustees Mr Stephen Read, General Manager Mark Woodgett, and Head of Care David Woodgett. A common theme running through the reports was the sense of family that bound together those who lived and worked at Quebec Hall. That was evidenced, guests were told, by the fact that one resident had lived on site for 30 years – transitioning from a bungalow the hall itself, two years ago – five staff had clocked up a total of 144 years between them, one of the team of self-employed tradesman who maintain the complex had been doing so for nearly 40 years and one of the trustees had served for 24 years.
 
A superb buffet spread was enjoyed by visitors who were also invited to tour the hall and view three of the bungalows whose residents had kindly offered to show them off.
 
“A lot of people put in a lot of hard work – but we have had so many compliments about the day; it was very worthwhile,” said Mark Woodgett.
 
Read more about Quebec Hall here.
See our previous story about the open day here.
 
For further information about Quebec Hall, visit quebechall.co.uk
Or contact: Mark Woodgett at info@quebechall.co.uk or phone 01362 692504.
 
Quebec Hall is on Quebec Road, Dereham, Norfolk NR19 2QY
 
The photos are courtesy of Quebec Hall

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