Our history
Adapted from 'A Constant Compassion' by Phil Dennett. Written in memory of his sister, Dorothy Thomas who spent her last days at St Peter & St James, and in memory of all those who have found peace here.
A moment's act of kindness for a bedraggled donkey was the unusual starting point for the care, love and support that people now receive at St Peter & St James Hospice & Continuing Care Centre, on the border of Wivelsfield Green and North Chailey in East Sussex.
On a February day in 1951, Jim Dinnage, a local farmer, took pity on a sorry-looking donkey. The sight of the weak-looking, miserable and dripping animal labouring to pull an over-laden trap touched Jim's heart and he surprised his wife Susan by coming home with the donkey and the trap bought for £5. Jim then rescued another 194 donkeys, bound for the slaughterhouse, whose move to Wivelsfield hit headlines all over the world, and led to the first ever Donkey Derby!
In 1954, Jim and Susan's son Peter was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma and died two years later at only 13. Susan, inspired by the conviction that somewhere was needed to relieve the enormous stress of families caring for seriously ill relatives, opened a holiday centre in Lancing for disabled children and adults. She named it St Peter's after her son and the funds raised by the donkey races were channelled into this cause. Work continued until sadly, in 1963, Jim died from a heart attack.
In 1975, Susan opened St Peter & St James Holiday Home for the disabled on the current site. The progress towards what we now know as St Peter & St James Hospice & Continuing Care Centre continued when the home was registered as a nursing home in 1977. In the mid 1980's the Home started offering hospice care to the local community as the patients who were very ill or disabled chose to spend their final days there. Progress and modernisation continued and in 1995 the new Day Hospice was officially opened in the presence of Dame Vera Lynn, a patron of St Peter & St James.
By the start of the 21st century the site of St Peter & St James had matured into a tranquil setting in 28 acres of Sussex countryside with spectacular views across the South Downs. We encourage our patients and their loved ones to make the most of our grounds, which include landscaped gardens, a wheelchair friendly woodland walk and a summer house. And yes, we do still have some donkeys!
Our mission as a registered charity is to provide specialist care, love and support for those living with progressive, life limiting illnesses from East and West Sussex. We will endeavour to meet the needs of each patient, their family and friends. We aim to encourage and enable all patients to live their lives to their full potential despite their illnesses.
All of our Hospice services are free of charge to patients and their loved ones. We receive just 15% of our funding from the Government and have to raise over £1.3 million every year through fundraising. That's £3,600 every single day!
To find out more about fundraising at St Peter & St James and how you might be able to help us please click here.