It is with a great sense of loss we inform you that Mr Harold Hatt, the Chairman of Bethany Care Trust, has been called home to heaven and is ‘safe home’ with his Lord where he long wished to be.
Harold was responsible for the planning and building of Bethany, forming the first trust in 1986 and admitting the first resident in November 1992. He often said that he thought that when the home was built his job would be over, however, that proved not to be the case and his continuing, invaluable input to the running of the home made Bethany the place it is today. His trust in God was firm, his talents wide and varied and his sense of humour infectious. Harold had an ability to put people at ease and invariably everyone felt better after a conversation with him.
Harold had a passion for the care of the elderly and a great vision of how people, the most vulnerable in our society, should be treated – with dignity and respect. He was also very aware that for Christians the single most important factor in their care and continuing happiness lies in keeping a close relationship with their Lord and Saviour. The key to this, of course, is to be able to read Gods word, the bible which can be so difficult with age. For this reason Harold visited Bethany on a weekly basis for thirty years and took the meeting in the lounge, reading, singing and praying with all and was very keen that the Christian ethos of the home should be uphold. Over the years he sat with innumerable elderly residents at the end of their life on earth, encouraging them by quoting what he called ‘the lovely words of the Lord Jesus’ and often singing simple choruses and familiar hymns.
Completely dependable, extremely kind and self-deprecating, Harold quietly and consistently led and inspired us all at Bethany. Somehow he was able to lead and teach us so much without us even being aware that we were being taught. He had an ability to cut through all the red tape and get to the things that really matter in life – he will be greatly missed.
To use the words of another 2 Samuel 3 v 38
‘ a Prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel’
The current body of trustees and managers are very keen to ensure that the same high level of care and support continues to be provided to all of our residents – Please pray for us all – particularly for Harold’s wife Ruth and the rest of the family.