The Elizabeth Montgomerie Foundation was established in 2007 by Colin and his family to provide support for people affected by cancer. With Maggie’s, the Foundation is not only supporting the building of the centre in Lanarkshire, but will support the building of a centre in Aberdeen in 2012

Colin and his father were joined by dignitaries, NHS officials, Maggie’s centre users and supporters, and the architects involved in the project at the site of Monklands Hospital today to bury a commemorative timecapsule where the new Maggie’s Centre will be located. Items included within the timecapsule are: Signed golfing memorabilia from Colin; architects impressions of the centre’s design; personal items from Maggie’s Lanarkshire’s scrapbooking class, and much more.

Colin met with people affected by cancer, who will benefit from the new centre opening, as well as with Maggie’s staff to hear exactly what the new centre will bring to the region. Planning permission is granted for the centre, with architects plans approved, and construction work set to begin imminently.

Maggie’s currently operate an interim facility at Wishaw General Hospital, which opened in April 2008 – this centre has steadily grown, receiving over 2,500 visits in 2010. The permanent, uniquely designed centre will be able to open its doors to many more visitors and will be based at Monklands Hospital.

Laura Lee said: “We are so pleased to welcome Colin and his family to our site. This is a really lovely opportunity for us to celebrate the support from Colin and his Foundation, who are the principal funders of the Elizabeth Montgomerie Building at Maggie’s Lanarkshire. Our interim facility is currently working to capacity and it is fantastic to see the plans today and the site location for the new centre and wonderful to think we are on the brink of seeing that centre become a reality. This is a fantastic legacy to Colin’s mother, Elizabeth and inspiring to think that when this timecapsule is re-opened decades down the line, that the centre will have supported hundreds of thousands of people across the region build a life with, through and beyond cancer.”

Colin Montgomerie said: “I am so pleased to be here today with my father, to celebrate the success of our campaign to establish The Elizabeth Montgomerie Building with Maggie’s in Lanarkshire, as part of a lasting legacy to my mother. We are so close to seeing the fruit of everyone’s hard work coming together and I can’t wait to revisit this site next year to officially open the centre. It is also quite a thought that future generations may discover this timecapsule and, you can only hope, that for them, cancer will become a disease of the past. I am sure my mother would have been very proud today.”

Tim Davison, Chief Executive of NHS Lanarkshire said: “It is an honour to welcome both Colin Montgomerie and Maggie’s to Monklands Hospital today. We know how important the Maggie’s Centre is to the people of Lanarkshire and it is exciting to see the plans for a permanent centre coming together. The interim centre at Wishaw already provides vital support for people with cancer but there is no doubt that the new centre will be an invaluable resource for patients and their families over the coming years.”

The architect working on the project is Neil Gillespie, of Reiach and Hall Architects. Neil is known for his designs for buildings such as The Pier Arts Centre in Stromness and the Collective Gallery in Edinburgh.

Plans for the design and feel of the new centre are described as: Visitors to the centre will enter a quiet simple space, an arrival court, defined by low brick walls and two lime trees. At once a sense of dignity and calm is encountered. A linear rill, a spring, animates the space with the sound of running water, a refreshing source and an intimation of beginnings. A simple repetitive framed structure defines and creates an intimate scale while allowing spaces and rooms to either open up to the central sequence of public rooms or close down to create private moments.

In 2011, Maggie’s Centres celebrate 15@15 – their 15th anniversary year with 15 centres, either established or in development. Maggie’s Centres help people to build a life with, through and beyond cancer, offering emotional and practical support for people with cancer, their friends and family.


…ENDS…

For more media information and photographer please contact Tricia Crosbie on 0141 341 5678 / 07769 145260

For more information about the Elizabeth Montgomerie Foundation, please contact Lucinda Rivers on 07789 434664