THE handover of Havens Hospices' new £17million hospice has been marked with the laying of a time capsule.

After 65 weeks of construction, a time capsule was layed in the grounds at Priory Crescent, Prittwell on Friday.

The hospice, Southend's only adult hospice, designed by LSI Architects and built by Barnes Construction, will provide 16 in-patient bedrooms, increased services and additional family support.

This means that it can care for twice as many patients and families, and offer more treatments and support more families.

Inside the time capsule was a special message from Pearl Naylor MBE, the charity’s longest serving volunteer.

Pearl, 94, said: "I started off doing table top sales to raise money and on my last day at the old hospice on Chalkwell Avenue I swept the floors and said goodbye to the building.

“I feel lucky to be a part of Fair Havens, and to be a part of this ceremony. I hope that the new hospice continues making every day count for our patients and families.

"This is a new era and a new start for us all.”

Steve Smith, the chief executive at Havens Hospices, said: "This new adult hospice for Southend has been many years in the planning.

"However, thanks to Barnes Construction they were able to bring the plans to life in just 15 months along with LSI Architects and Studio 31 which designed the outside space.

“This official handover of the building from Barnes Construction to Havens Hospices is the culmination of the hard work of hundreds of people from both organisations, from fundraisers to builders and dozens of other trades in between.

“It’s an honour to be here marking this occasion by burying a time capsule which not only contains memories of our past hospice care but our hopes for the future.”