Redhill Drive

Coppercliff Hospice

By Maggie Williams

Donated by the Braybon family

Coppercliff Nursing Home was a beautiful rambling house located at 74 Redhill Drive Withdean. The house was donated  to the people of Brighton and Hove, by the Braybon Family (famous local builders at that time). In 1965 it became a hospice for cancer patients. When The Martlets hospice in Hove opened in 1997, Coppercliff was renamed Outlook House and became a residential care home.

Wonderful nursing staff

It had such lovely gardens with a tennis court at the bottom. There was a sweeping central staircase with a lovely stained glass window on the first floor landing. The window had a picture of a builders trowel. I have such sad memories, but at the same time I remember the wonderful nursing staff, led by the then Matron, Olive Burrage.

Individual patient rooms

My late father died at Coppercliff in March 1969. After my father died, my late mother, Mary Doogan, was a sister there for a few years. The patients all had their own rooms and enjoyed wonderful food prepared by the cook, Joan Sargent and her team of kitchen staff. I also remember Mrs Joy, who did the flowers and used to bring her lovely scottie dog to work!

Oasis of peace

I was a volunteer helper for a while after my father died. It was an oasis of peace both for the patient and their families and loved ones. I will never forget the kindness shown, or indeed the sacrifice that the Braybon family made, in giving up their family home.