Theonstruction of a new £5.5 million extension to a hospital-home for disabled ex-servicemen will start in September.

Gifford House was last week given permission by Worthing Borough Council to construct the twostorey facility at its Boundary Road site.

Work will start with the demolition of the occupational therapy department and an ancillary building.

A new ward complex will then be constructed, consisting of 22 single rooms with en suite facilities, together with enhanced physiotherapy and occupational therapy departments.

The total cost of the work, which will take about 18 months from the September 3 start, is £3.5 million.

Phase one will be followed by the conversion of two existing wards to single, en suite rooms. This will be done in two phases, each taking nine months to complete and costing £1 million per ward.

When completed, the net result will be 57 beds, as opposed to the current 60.

The project manager is Peter Kent, of FT Allen, Goring, and the architect is Graeme Hawkins, of Miller Bourne, based in Hove.

A major fund-raising appeal will be launched shortly to raise cash for the project during the next four years, with special emphasis on legacy donations for the Queen Alexandra Hospital-Home.

The complex has recently taken on a full-time fund-raiser, Sheila Harris, who will co-ordinate fund-raising and event activities.

Chief Executive John Paxman will continue to concentrate on fund-raising nationally.

Research by the Royal British Legion shows the number of establishments offering nursing facilities to ex-servicemen will reduce over the next five years as more and more will be unable to continue financially.

This is at a time when demand for beds at such establishments will increase as the bulk of those who took part in National Service are now entering early old age.

Experts believe demand for beds will increase for the next 15-18 years.

Last Thursday there was a major briefing at Gifford House for its patrons: Lady Sarah Clutton; Hugh Wyatt; the Lord Lieutenant of West Sussex; Lady Bowes Lyon; Mr and Mrs Bowron, of Storrington; Admiral Sir Desmond Dryer; the Duke of Richmond;

AD Tennant, of Aberdeenshire;

Dame Vera Lynn; Peter Bottomley, MP for Worthing West; and the Mayor of Worthing, Councillor Eric Mardell, who is an honorary patron.