The sale of the home was completed on 1st October 2010 and the Nursing Home will continue to operate as a going concern, with current residents' homes safe and the existing staff team retained.

English Care is an experienced care provider which operates Bowbrook House Care Home in Shrewsbury. This is an award winning home and rated as excellent by the Care Quality Commission. Bowbrook House provides accommodation and care in a friendly and homely atmosphere for 30 elderly residents.

David English, a Director of English Care said: "We are very pleased that we have been able to purchase the Lady Forester Nursing Home and Forester's Court. We are looking forward to working with the staff, residents, relatives and the community to ensure the future success of the home.

"We plan to expand both the home and Forester's Court to ensure they are a viable and secure facility for the future. All the work will be carried out by our sister company English Construction, which is an award winning company experienced in working within the healthcare sector.

"Our main priority now is to fill the vacancies we have both in the Nursing Home and the retirement apartments. For more information on this you can contact the manager Michelle Hipkins on 01952 727203.
"We have been very impressed by the support shown by the community and its campaign to save the home."

The directors of English Care, David and Jennifer English, are looking forward to meeting the local community and will be offering a chance for people to come and meet the team and hear about the plans for the home over the coming years.

Chief Executive of The ExtraCare Charitable Trust, Nick Abbey said:
"We sought a well-respected care provider that would both maintain its commitment to residents currently living at the scheme and support an existing team of highly dedicated staff. I am delighted that English Care has completed this purchase and will be able to fulfil these commitments.

"I would like to thank the residents, staff and the community of Much Wenlock for their loyalty, determination and support during this period"

Commenting on the successful sale of the Lady Forester Nursing Home in Much Wenlock, local MP Philip Dunne said: "This is excellent news for Much Wenlock and a huge relief for residents in the Lady Forester Nursing Home. I am pleased that overwhelming public support helped persuade the previous owners to pursue sale as a going concern rather than closing the home and selling the site for housing development. I welcome English Care to Much Wenlock where they can be assured of strong community support for the improvements they intend to make to this important nursing and residential care home serving the town and surrounding area."

Mr Dunne chaired a public meeting last July organised by the Town Council attended by hundreds of people concerned to secure the future of the Lady Forester Nursing Home.

- Editors' Notes -

The Lady Forester Community Nursing Home was a legacy left to the town at the turn of the last century by Mary Ann, Lady Forester, as a memorial to her late husband.

It operated as a cottage hospital for about 90 years before it was closed as a hospital but was allowed to run as a nursing home with four GP beds funded by the Health Authority.

It has been owned by The ExtraCare Charitable Trust since 1996.

English Care Ltd, an award winning company based in Shrewsbury, operate Bowbrook House Care Home which is rated by the Care Quality Commission as an excellent provider. David and Jennifer English are the directors of the family owned company which has been operating from Bowbrook House over the last 12 years.

English Construction, an award winning company, is part of the English Group. English Construction is experienced in carrying out work to Healthcare facilities.

Contact details for English Care: David English 01743 247071 or 07813 139220

Contact details for The ExtraCare Charitable Trust: Richard Tower 0772 055 3658. Richard.tower@extracare.org.uk