Visit of HRH The Countess of Wessex to Markyes Close 7 May 2014

The Countess of Wessex visited Markyes Close in Ross-on-Wye.  Markyes Close is a specialist residential home for Older people with learning disabilities and age related conditions such as dementia.  The Lord Lieutenant, High Sheriff, Chairman of Herefordshire Council and the Mayor of Ross welcomed the Countess along with the manageress of Markyes Close, Gail Cooper.  The 20 staff were present along with the management of Aspire Living.  The Countess talked at length to all the residents.  It was a delight to see how much pleasure she gave. I was extremely impressed by the home at Markyes Close.  The quality and attitude of the staff were superb.  The residents of this home really made it feel like a home and that we were being welcomed into their lives.  The management of Aspire living were inspirational and certainly seem to be producing a top quality facility at rates which are hard to match.  They appear to be a charity for others to aspire to!  I wish them well for their plans to open a new home in Hereford.