31 August 2022

Pilgrims Hospices turns 40!

In 2022, Pilgrims Hospices celebrated 40 years since its first hospice was opened at the Canterbury site in June 1982.

This was followed by the Thanet hospice in 1992, and the Ashford hospice in 2001; so there was a lot to celebrate in 2022!


On 8 June 1982, Ann Robertson, the founder of Pilgrims Hospices, welcomed Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother to oversee the opening of the hospice in Canterbury.

Ten years later, on 1 September 1992, the Thanet hospice was opened in the grounds of the QEQM Hospital in Margate.

Then, on 4 January 2001, after an overwhelming amount of support from the local community, the hospice at Ashford was opened.

In 2022, the charity not only celebrated 40 years of Pilgrims Hospices providing expert care and support in east Kent, but also marked the 30th anniversary of the Thanet hospice and the 21st anniversary of the Ashford hospice.

Annie Hogben, who has worked for Pilgrims since 1986 in many different roles including as a nurse, on the wider clinical team and within the Education department, said:

Annie Hogben

“I started work in the Canterbury hospice as a State Enrolled Nurse in May 1986. I was so keen to join the hospice team after hearing a lecture by Cicely Saunders, one of the founders of the Hospice movement, and felt it was the right place for me.

“I left the hospice in 1989 to continue my training and then returned to the Canterbury hospice in 1992, as a Registered Nurse.

“After having my family, I worked nights for a couple of years, before finally leaving the Canterbury hospice in 2000, to move to the Ashford hospice, to set up the day services centre there.

“Over these past years, Pilgrims has grown and developed dramatically to meet the needs of the people of east Kent, but always with the wonderful philosophy to support and come alongside patients, families and bereaved loved ones throughout the latter part of their lives. I consider it a real privilege to have been part of this amazing team of staff and volunteers for so long.”

Read Annie’s full story here.

You can still celebrate with us!

£15 could pay for one complimentary therapy session for a patient, giving them a moment of relaxation and peace away from their illness.

£25 could provide an hour of specialist nursing care in our hospices, at Canterbury, Thanet and Ashford.

£40 could cover four hours of staffing for our 24-hour telephone line, providing advice and support to patients, their families, and other healthcare professionals.

Click here to donate today.

Thank you so much for your support

Every generous donation from our amazing community of supporters helps to make sure we can be there for the next family who needs us.

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with a life limiting illness, find out about the full range of services Pilgrims can offer.


If you or someone you know is coping with a life-limiting illness and you think you may benefit from Pilgrims free services, talk to your GP or Healthcare Professional about your options or click here to read about our Wellbeing Programme.