A HOME builder has gifted a piece of land to a hospice and given a grieving family a lasting memory of their loved one.

Dave Thomas, of Rhyl, died aged 65 at St Kentigern Hospice following a short battle with cancer. During his final days, he spent time reminiscing with family members in the sunshine as they looked out over the grounds and neighbouring land, some of which has now been gifted to the hospice by Castle Green to extend their outdoor space.

When Dave’s daughter-in-law Shirlean started work in customer care for Castle Green Homes in St Asaph she shared the experience with colleagues.

The story helped inspire the name for the homebuilder’s development, on land next to the St Asaph based hospice.

It has been called Maes yr Haul, which translates as Fields of Sun.

Shirlean said: “Dave had been diagnosed with throat cancer and vowed to ‘fight it and give it everything he had’. Sadly, it was discovered he also had lung cancer and was moved to the hospice.

“His bedroom door opened out so we could sit outside in the garden – the weather was glorious.

“Over the course of the week we sat outside in the sunshine and he would talk about his life growing up and reminisce. It was a really emotional time.

“We can’t thank St Kentigern enough for the help and support they gave to the whole family. They put a counselling programme in place for my daughter to help give her the skills she needed so that we could grieve as a family. It will always have a special place in our hearts.

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“I’m grateful to Castle Green for naming the development with my father-in-law in mind," Shirlean added.

"It means that a little part of him lives on. Fields of sun are exactly what they were for our family. It gave comfort to us and we have good memories of sitting outside in the blazing sun in our own little bubble."

Castle Green is making a series of donations over the next three years to support the hospice. 

The house-builder has detailed planning for 113 homes across a 12 acre site, on Upper Denbigh Road.

Subject to planning, the company will build a further 20 homes on an additional 1.6 acre parcel of land, which was formerly the Welsh Ambulance Service HQ. Prior to moving to St Asaph Business Park, Welsh Ambulance Service were based at the old HM Stanley Hospital site.

Maes yr Haul offers a choice of two, three and four-bedroom homes, with the final few properties on the first phase now on sale.