An extraordinary place, and an extraordinary responsibility

I visited earlier today, not quite sure what to expect.

The old hospital site is still there, the imposing Victorian asylum building standing as a reminder of a very different era in mental health care. Alongside it sits the newer complex, built on what was once marshland within the grounds. The contrast is striking - not just architecturally, but philosophically too. You can feel the shift from containment to care, from fear to responsibility, from the past to something much more thoughtful and humane.

Broadmoor is an extraordinary facility. It exists to care for men who are, at one and the same time, among the most dangerous and yet most vulnerable people in our society. That dual truth sits at the heart of everything that happens there. Nothing is simple. Nothing is taken lightly. Safety, dignity, treatment and justice are all in constant, careful balance.

During the visit I spoke to a number of patients and was greeted warmly. Those conversations mattered. They were human, open, and quietly disarming, a reminder that labels rarely tell the full story. We were also shown around the horticulture area and the woodworking workshop. These spaces spoke powerfully about purpose, routine, skill and pride - rehabilitation in its most practical and dignified form.

As this was Berkshire, I was visiting as Sean’s guest, alongside Pippa, the High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire. We were also joined by Mark and Anne, which added to the sense of shared reflection and perspective as we moved around the site. It was a privilege to see Broadmoor through the eyes of colleagues and friends, and to take time to talk together about what we were being shown.

What stayed with me most was the professionalism and quiet humanity of the staff, across every discipline and role we encountered. This is demanding, often unseen work, carried out with remarkable calm and commitment.

I was particularly delighted at the end of the visit to support Sean as he presented High Sheriff’s Awards to members of staff from a range of disciplines and areas. It felt entirely fitting. In a place that carries such weight, it is right that we pause to recognise those who carry it, day in and day out, on behalf of all of us.

A sobering visit, certainly. But also a hopeful one.