Our British Brothers and Sisters opened up a Fisher House in Birmingham last year next to Queen Elizabeth Hospital. This is a joint military and civilian hospital composed of 1600 beds- seeing 900,000 patients a year. The Brits closed their last military hospital in 2001. There is a special ward for the military so not to mix with the civilians for obvious reasons. Quite a different concept from the US model but a great take off on the Fisher House. The House served 700 visitors and provided 4500 nights in it's first year. They get soldiers straight away from the battlefield in less than 24 hours. Wow!
We were supremely welcomed by Mike Hammond, Director of QE of Charity for the Hospital, Patrick Hagan the House Manager, and lovely Rosie Sanderson,. Communication Officer.
Mike gave a super tour, so proud of their house. A writer from the British Military Broadcasting and Radio joined us. Help for Heroes, in partnership with The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity and the US Charity, Fisher House Foundation made this happen June 2013-and The Prince of Wales opened the house. The house include 18 large bedrooms with en-suite facilities.
A popular room on sports nights...they filled the space with 120 burly builders to thank them for the most fabulous job they did on the construction....and a tear was shed. So proud to be a part of a righteous organization and commitment to their military. Bravo gents! Thank you US Fisher Foundation for donating $2 of the $6 million needed to build this beautiful home away from home.
Now this is a switch...the dinning room in the back of the house. Not the traditional Fisher House footprint but very smart. Apparently, the Brits preferred to eat their chow in a more private area and not at the front door. Well done, ol'chap. And yes they allow liquor in the house unlike US Houses. But conversely, no alcohol at the hospital but allowed in the states. Bottoms up.
Big job here, as they have to fund raise all year to pay for house operations...no VA or Dept of Defense funding.
Patrick, the wonderful House Manager- first time we saw a House Mangers up on the second floor. Patrick is looking forward to the Fisher House Manager meeting in San Antonio in August...and why didn't they wait for a hotter month? Hello Inge!
Oh Joy! A sink with a one spigot faucet...hot and cold at the same time.. Boca wanted to grab a wash cloth and scrub her face.
Jason checking out the patio...a little respite in the huge hospital complex. Smoking allowed. No Sunbrella needed Aunt Pam.
Indeed, this is certainly the largest family bedroom we have seen Mike. Great spot for the kiddies. They have had guests stay from 4 hrs to 9 months and counting.
Mike and Patrick offered the Pleepster a proper English Bisquit. We hope to have Mike to the Naples hacienda for some of Bubba's BBQ as he vacations in Tampa and environs every December. Thank you again for such a warm welcome to Friends of the Fishers. Cherrio.
And Bubs admired their Mini, actually not so mini, Cooper. Every 4 months they replace it with a new car. Sweeeeet.
And I asked darling Rosie to give Boca a lesson in Black Country English accents and dialects...the regional accent and the way they use words. So dear Boca, let's start with the Brumee. Brumee is a colloquial term for the inhabitants, accent and dialect of Birmingham, England. Locally called Brum. It is markedly different than the traditional accent of the adjacent Black Country. Think Ozzie Osborne. To the untrained ear, Bubba can't understand a dam thing. Throw a wobbly Bubs!
Yam Yam? Yow Yows? So much to learn over'ere.
