Hospice history framed

Feb 13 2008 By Alison Dayani

THE history of a Birmingham hospice is being brought to life at an exhibition.

John Taylor Hospice at Grange Road, Erdington, was once home to a city dignitary but is best known as a place where people spent their final weeks wrapped in love.

Now a series of pictures from the hospice's past have gone on show at Erdington Library in Orphanage Road.

The hospice was once the home of former Birmingham Lord Mayor Sir Benjamin Stone, who was also the first Conservative MP for Birmingham East.

Fundraising officer Ray Woods said: "Sir Benjamin was a very well-known figure in Birmingham and Sutton Coldfield at the turn of the 20th century.

"The home was then known as The Grange, after which Grange Road is named.

"We have managed to get some wonderful old photographs taken by Sir Benjamin but are still looking for information and pictures relating to the hospice and The Grange."

Sir Benjamin, who was also a councillor in Birmingham and Sutton Coldfield, retired in 1910, the same year in which Dr John Taylor, the founder of the hospice died.

Library staff were delighted to run the exhibition as they have already helped raise cash for the hospice.

They organised coffee mornings and provided toner cartridges and mobile phones for recycling.

The venue now serves more than 400,000 patients across Erdington, Sutton Coldfield and north and east Birmingham.

The exhibition runs until February 19.