Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal was given a warm welcome to Strathcarron Hospice today for a special visit to mark the charity’s 45^th anniversary.

The Princess Royal - a familiar face at the Hospice - met with CEO of the Hospice Mags McCarthy, Deputy Lieutenant of Stirling and Falkirk, Sir Iain McMillan, Representing Provost, Falkirk Council, Baillie William Buchanan, Representing Chief Executive, Falkirk Council, Gail Woodcock and Local Police Commander, Forth Valley Division, Police Scotland, Chief Superintendent Roddy Irvine.

Her Royal Highness spoke with pupils from St. Francis Xavier’s Primary School and viewed the Hospice’s new community outreach van, before making a special speech to long serving staff and volunteers, praising the incredible service the hospice has delivered for the communities it serves over the last 45 years.

During the visit The Princess Royal viewed a display of archive items and a timeline sharing the history of the Hospice and spent time chatting with staff, volunteers, supporters and patients on the ward.

The Princess Royal presented some of the founding members of the Hospice with a commemorative gift, before being presented with one herself by CEO Mags McCarthy for her dedication of support to Strathcarron Hospice.

In Strathcarron's 45-year history HRH The Princess Royal has visited the Hospice 41 times since her first visit in 1982.  

 

Hospice CEO Mags McCarthy, said: “We are delighted to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal for this special visit to mark the 45^th anniversary of Strathcarron Hospice.

“There has been a great buzz about the place as we eagerly anticipated her arrival and we are very grateful for the time she devotes to staff, volunteers, supporters, patients and families.

“The Princess Royal met individual patients in our Inpatient Unit in private and each patient will receive a photograph of their meeting with her.  We know that these become cherished family mementos of a lovely day.

“We are grateful for the devotion Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal has shown the Hospice over the years. It has been much appreciated.”

Care and services right across our communities and within the 24 bedded ward in the Hospice are provided by 243 staff with support from hundreds of volunteers who contributed over 100,000 hours of volunteering 2023-24.

The largest independent Hospice in Scotland, Strathcarron provides essential services for patients with life-limiting conditions (including end-of-life care) for patients living in Forth Valley and Cumbernauld and Kilsyth in North Lanarkshire.

In 2024-25 the Hospice provided care for 331 patients in our 24 patient bedded unit and also supported 1802 new patients at home including care from our Community Nurse Specialists, Hospice at Home, Live Your Life, Rehabilitation and Bereavement Teams.

Her Royal Highness was introduced to individuals and representatives of organisations who have supported the Hospice throughout the past year. This included:

• Carol Brown and Alan McMeekin from West Fraser
• David Lapsley from Cebotec
• Kevin Beattie, volunteer Ambassador
• Jason Robinson from Robinson’s Hire Drive
• Scott and Gillian McCabe from Appeal Media
• St Francis Xavier’s Primary School:
• Helen Quinn and Mark Murray and 8 pupils including Anna McBride & her mother Sarah McBride
• Ms Molly Parsons, Hospice Founding Member
• Mrs Christine Souter, Hospice Founding Member
• Mrs Dorothy Scott, Hospice Founding Member
• Provost Donald Balsillie, Clackmannanshire Council Provost
• Kenneth Duffy, North Lanarkshire Council
• Mrs Shona Struthers – Chair, Creative Homecare Board
• Mrs Julie McVicar, Treasurer, Council of Management
• Mrs Baljit Dhillon, Council of Management
• Dr Karyn Webster, Council of Management
• Mrs Nicola Smith-Morton (Rae), Council of Management
• Mrs Lesley Wood, Council of Management
• Mrs Mary Swann,
• Volunteer Mrs Jean Currie,
• Volunteer Mr James Allardyce,
• Volunteer Mrs Morag Wallace,
• Volunteer Mr George Nichol, Grangemouth Rotary
• Mr Stuart Comrie, Grangemouth Rotary
• Mrs Mary Sneddon, Falkirk Rotary
• Mr Jimmy Cairnes, Falkirk Rotary
• Mrs April McKinney, Complementary Therapy Lead - longest current serving member of staff
• Mrs Alison Moodie, Community Clinical Nurse Specialist who is retiring from the Hospice this year.
• Sam Henderson and Peter Dickie representatives from The Radical Weavers

Published 26 March 2026