‘Baroness delivered for us’

‘Baroness delivered for us’

13 March 2024

THIS spring marks the 30th anniversary of the successful community campaign to secure the future of the Ardview House residential home in Ardglass.

Health chiefs wanted to close a number of statutory residential homes funded by taxpayers, but they did not get their way in a village famous for its fishing industry and manicured links golf course.

The then Health Minister, Baroness Jean Denton, overruled her civil servants after visiting the home to speak with residents, relatives and staff, with a major community campaign also having a significant say in the final outcome.

Three decades on, two men who were heavily involved in the campaign have been reminiscing about the controversial proposal to close the doors of the home and the monumental effort to keep it open.

Dr Michael Healy and solicitor Neil Faris were key players, along with many others, with Dr Healy asked to lead the newly created Ardview House Action Committee when health chiefs earmarked Ardview for closure.

Looking back, the crucial influence of Baroness Denton remains with Dr Healy who said “she changed everything” and revealed he had a gut feeling that after visiting the home and meeting residents, she would not allow it to be shut.

“I firmly believed that after meeting with residents, viewing the facility and speaking with campaigners, her mind was made up before she got back into her ministerial car and headed for Belfast,” he said.

Within a matter of days, Dr Healy took a call at his place of work at Queen’s University and was asked to collect a letter at the Department of Health.

He remembers shaking as he made his way across the city with a myriad of thoughts colliding in his mind.

“When I was handed the letter I was still shaking, but tried not to show it,” he recalled.

“I distinctly remember the words ‘Ardview is to stay open’ jumping off the page and could not wait to get to Ardview to tell everyone,” said Dr Healy who arrived in Ardglass armed with two bottles of champagne.

“Baroness Denton’s visit was the decisive point in the campaign. There is absolutely no doubt about it. She got it. Ardview was people’s home and she was not going to allow it to close.”

Dr Healy said saving Ardview was a victory for people power and sound, reasoned, cogent argument which struck a chord with the health minister, despite what her civil servants had to say.

He said Mrs Anne McCann, whose mother was a resident in the home, approached and asked him to get involved in the campaign and the Ardview Action Committee was launched. 

Soon after, Mr Faris, whose aunt was also a resident, got on board.

“There were lots of public meetings and campaigners addressed the former Down Council and Eastern Health Board at Belfast’s Linenhall Street. It was very much a cross-community campaign and, in the end, it was a victory for common sense,” insisted Dr Healy.

“We were not going to take the closure decision lying down and were confident we could overturn it and we did, with the backing of Baroness Denton who proved to be a powerful ally.”

Dr Healy said the closure proposal was an evocative issue for the community and galvanised it into action.

There were countless meetings and campaigners hired a bus which was adorned with “Save Ardview” banners with the vehicle taking centre stage in Downpatrick’s St Patrick’s Day parade.

“We were determined that we were not going to take the closure lying down and that people for whom Ardview was home would be able to stay there,” continued Dr Healy.

“We could not countenance any other outcome. The campaign was gathering momentum and I have no doubt Baroness Denton was acutely aware of what local people thought about the closure proposal long before she arrived in Ardglass.”

Dr Healy said he had no connection with Ardview before being asked to spearhead the action group which was driving the campaign against its closure.

Thirty years on, the residential home has a special place in his heart and while remaining steadfastly modest about his contribution, his fellow campaigners say his leading from the front was pivotal.

“Ardview House became a major part of my life and it is great to come back to see the place and chat with staff, some of whom were here when the proposal to close the home was made. It says a lot about the place that they are still here,” Dr Healy continued.

“The fact many of the staff are still here tells you everything you need to know about Ardview House. It is a people’s home, a place were they are safe and secure and looked after by people who really care.”

Looking back, Dr Healy believes members of the Ardview House Action Committee were trailblazers.

“We organised a structured, cogent campaign. We just didn’t say ‘no’ for the sake of it but set out clearly why the closure proposal was wrong on so many levels. Others felt compelled to join our campaign and we were successful.

“We owe Baroness Denton so much and it was refreshing that there was a government minister who made her own mind up and was not swayed by her senior civil servants. There is absolutely no doubt that her decision to visit Ardview was a game changer.

“She could relate to people, none more so that Kathleen Henry. After speaking with her you could almost sense that as she was leaving, Ardview House wouldn’t be closing.”

Dr Healy added: “That was my gut feeling at the time and the Baroness delivered for residents, staff, the people of Ardglass and wider district.

“Keeping Ardview House open was a victory for people power, aligned with reasoned, cogent argument. This was and remains a fabulous facility and will continue to be.”