CANCER patient John Beauchamp and his wife Joyce are overjoyed that a Prospect Hospice centre is coming to the town where they have lived for 43 years.

Mr Beauchamp, 83, of George Lane, Marlborough, was diagnosed with cancer in early August and, while receiving treatment at the Great Western Hospital in Swindon, the couple were put in contact with the Prospect Hospice team.

Since then they have received a number of home visits from Linda Lulham, the charity’s clinical nurse specialist for Marlborough, Pewsey and the surrounding villages.

Mrs Beauchamp, 79, said: “Linda has been brilliant. She is always there when we have needed her and there have been times when she’s taken the initiative to call or pop round.

“Whenever we have discussed things it has always been all three of us together but I have no doubt that if I needed to speak to her as a carer she would be there to help me.”

The couple, who have been married for 45 years, were delighted when the appeal was launched in the Gazette to raise £75,000 for the Prospect Hospice outpatient facility in Savernake Hospital.

“It’s fantastic news and we have already donated to it,” Mrs Beauchamp said.

“I’m sure the people of Marlborough will get behind the fundraising and it would be nice to see some of the businesses get involved too.

“Savernake was working as a hospital when we first came here and then it closed its minor injuries unit and we were very disappointed, as were a lot of people in the town, so we are very pleased to see that it is coming to the forefront again.”

When the unit opens in June patients from the Marlborough and Pewsey area will be able to receive day treatments including physiotherapy and occupational therapy on their doorstep rather than having to travel to Wroughton.

Mrs Beauchamp said: “It will make a huge difference to have a facility so close to home.

“Things are going really well for John at the moment but it’s always nice to have it in the background because it might be needed in the future.”