A WINCHESTER hospice is about to mark a major milestone in its multi-million refurbishment project.

The £4 million Caterpillar Appeal at Naomi House and Jacksplace will see the centre transformed with larger bedrooms and bathrooms, dedicated space for messy play and music therapy and the installation of high-specification technology.

To mark a special phase in the hospice’s construction, appeal patron Alastair Stewart OBE will join Naomi Cornelius-Reid – after whom the hospice is named – to place a ceremonial tile on the new roof.

The “topping out” ceremony marks the stage that the building is now watertight.

Children and staff have also buried a time capsule in a small void high in the rafters of a newly built section of the hospice, in Sutton Scotney, which will become totally inaccessible once current building work is complete.

The capsule was filled with items that will, one day, offer its finder an insight into Naomi House and Jacksplace in 2014, sealed in an air-tight plastic tube.

Liz Hopper, who has worked at the hospice since 1998, said: “Working in the family support team we see families from their first visit to the hospice through to their child's death. Beginnings and endings are important to do well. This time capsule tells a story of today, and the people of tomorrow who discover it will catch a glimpse of life in the hospice in 2014.”

Items included children's artwork, poetry, photographs and information about the hospice and the Caterpillar Appeal building schedule that is underway.

So far, more than £3.1 million has been raised by members of the public, businesses and trusts.

At the end of October the hospice received £10,000 from the Barker-Mill Foundation (BMF).