Historical name chosen by Haverhill community for new care home

Company news

Nov 06, 2013

A resident at Place Court care home in Haverhill has chosen the winning name, ‘Cleeves Place’ for the new care home to be built in Millfields Way by Care UK. The community competition was launched in August by Care UK to find a name for the new care home and wellbeing centre to be built on the former Chalkstone Middle School site. Work will begin on the construction next month.

‘Cleeves Place’ was the suggestion of Barbara De Vita, daughter of Sylvia Pearce who is a resident at Place Court. Together they came up with the idea by joining the name Place Court with Anne of Cleeves who was given a house in Haverhill on her marriage to Henry VIII.

On hearing ‘Cleeves Place’ had been chosen as the winning name, Sylvia Pearce said: “My daughter and I are delighted as we like the name very much and it is lovely to know that, as the new care home grows in the community, we have been a part of it.”

Chris Hopkinson, Regional Operations Director at Care UK, said: “’Cleeves Place’ was chosen for its originality, its historical link and because it creatively connects the past with the present. We are delighted with the winning name and would like to thank all those who entered the competition.”

On the 21^st October Barbara De Vita was presented with a £100 Love2Shop voucher alongside two other finalists, Care UK colleague Kerry Gridley from Place Court care home who nominated ‘Millfields Court’ and Marion Smith from Haverhill who nominated ‘Weavers House’.

Assistant Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Services, Councillor Jenny Antill, said: “It was a privilege to be involved with the judging and I'm so happy that Barbara and Sylvia came up with a name that reflects the history of the area that the home will serve.

Cleeves Place and the other homes being developed by Care UK will offer those who need long term purpose built environments that will support the delivery of high quality care.”

Construction will begin on Cleeves Place in mid-November and the new care home and wellbeing centre are scheduled to open in December 2014. The residents of Place Court will have the opportunity to move into Cleeves Place, after which Place Court, which dates from the fifties, will close. All residents and their relatives are being closely consulted with regarding the plans.

The new home is one of ten in Care UK’s £60 million investment into care provision in Suffolk in partnership with Suffolk County Council.

Look out for further details of Care UK’s ‘give a home a name’ competitions in Suffolk at www.careuk.com/suffolk.