This year, we are marking forty-five years of the Island’s ‘hospice story’ with a series of commemorative events.

Our 45th anniversary year will celebrate specialist end-of-life care for people of the Isle of Wight, which began in 1977 with the opening of Southampton’s Countess Mountbatten Hospice, now known as Mountbatten Hampshire.

Islanders travelled to Southampton for hospice care for five years, before Mountbatten Isle of Wight opened in 1982. 

Today, our two organisations work in partnership, sharing expertise and best practice, though remain separate charities supported by their respective communities. 

“This anniversary is very special for many reasons, notably the start of the hospice story on the Island,” said Nigel Hartley, Mountbatten CEO. 

“Countess Mountbatten Hospice was the local hospice for the Island for five years, and very much opened to support Islanders as well as the communities across Hampshire. 

“Rightfully, it was recognised the Isle of Wight needed its own hospice and, since then, we have forged a unique and very special relationship with our Island community, who give us incredible support.

“The strength of that, alongside our expertise and innovation, has led to us becoming a national exemplar of hospice care, which the Island should be very proud of.

“We believe the early days helped define what was to come, so celebrating this anniversary and acknowledging the work we do today on the Isle of Wight, Southampton and west Hampshire, is really important.”

Special events will be held across the year, including a triathlon between our Southampton and Isle of Wight hospices, a special regatta in Cowes, and a party at Mountbatten, which will be open to anyone.

Gala dinners and a carol service at Newport Minster are also planned.

Our 45th anniversary logo has been specially designed for the occasion, created free of charge by brand expert Stephen Izatt, who developed the new Mountbatten logo in 2017.