SICK CHILDREN and their families were paid a royal visit when the Duke of Cambridge paid a visit to Acorns Children’s Hospice.
Prince William stopped off at the hospice which provides specialist care for children – including those from Solihull – as part of his tour of the region on Tuesday (September 18).
He met families using the hospice multi-sensory room and taking part in a hydrotherapy session with a physiotherapist before meeting children and families enjoying a stay-and-play session in the hospice lounge.
The visit comes as Acorns celebrates 30 years since Diana, Princess of Wales officially opened the hospice on Oak Tree Lane in 1988, at the time only the third children’s hospice in the world.
The Duke was given a tour of the hospice by Acorns young ambassadors, Assya Shabir and Bradley Addison and he reacquainted with fellow Aston Villa FC fan and Acorns Ambassador Moin Younis following the pair’s introduction at the Pride of Britain Awards last year.
Following the tour of the hospice, the Duke met a group of Acorns Patrons, staff and supporters before unveiling a plaque to commemorate the visit which has been places next to his mother’s from the official opening.
Toby Porter, Acorns chief executive, said: “It was a day none of us will ever forget at Acorns.
“It was quite magical for us to see the pleasure it gave the children and the families to meet the Duke at the Birmingham hospice opened by his mother 30 years ago.
“What a fantastic 30th anniversary present for everyone at Acorns.
“We are proud and grateful to our two Acorns Young Ambassadors Assya and Bradley, for doing such a wonderful job leading the tour.
“We are confident the Duke will have left with a proper insight into the care delivered by our incredible staff and volunteers, and we hope he enjoyed his visit.
“We talk about the importance of making special memories for the children and families who come to Acorns – never more so than today.
For more information about Acorns visit www.acorns.org.uk
