As a tribute to one of the leading campaigners against the closure of Swanage Day Centre in 2007, part of the revamped building now called The Focus Centre, has been named in her honour.
Swanage resident Geraldine or Gerry Norris was successful in her fight to save the day centre, which cared for the disabled and elderly, when Dorset Council wanted to close them across Dorset.
Mel (left) and Gerry Norris (right) in September 2021
The Gerry Norris Wing
At an open day on Saturday 17th May 2025, The Gerry Norris Wing was officially opened by her husband Mel.
Sadly, Gerry died after a short illness on 15th January 2025 but her campaigning spirit, which was legendary across Swanage, ensured that many aspects of life in Swanage were saved or improved.
Along with her husband Mel, she also fought to keep Swanage Community Hospital and its services from closure over a number of years, achieved the reopening of the James Day Care Home in Ulwell Road in 2011, and ensured the building of a new modern Swanage Recycling Centre in 2012.
By 2013, Gerry had fought for and won a new NHS dental service after the town’s only NHS dentist stopped accepting NHS patients. Most recently from 2020 to 2022 she played a key role in successfully saving the Swanage Ambulance Car from being scrapped.
The Welcome Lounge in The Gerry Norris Wing, is a drop in centre for anyone to get help or advice on any subject that is concerning them including mental health issues
The plaque in the building which details Gerry’s contribution to the Swanage community
Buildings saved for the community
The Swanage Day Centre which is now incorporated into The Focus Centre just off the High Street, is run by the Swanage and Purbeck Development Trust, after Dorset Council was persuaded in 2024 to hand over the three buildings to the local community.
The Focus Centre offers a range of services including toddler groups, breastfeeding advice, health visitors, speech and language therapy, drug and alcohol services, and mental health support.
Entertainment at the open day at The Focus Centre was provided by the popular local choir Allsort’d
Bob Foster (left) with Mel Norris (right) at the naming ceremony
“Gerry started it all off!”
Chair of the Swanage and Purbeck Development Trust Bob Foster said:
“We just wouldn’t be here without Gerry stopping the building being closed down by Dorset Council in 2007. Six day centres across Dorset were closed and this was the only one to be saved.
“Now when people visit the building there is a plaque which prominently lets them know just how instrumental her actions were to secure the building for the community.
“We’re delighted by the number of people who turned up to The Focus Centre open day and the opening of The Gerry Norris Wing, including lots of children, as this is exactly the atmosphere we are trying to achieve. It made me realise just how worthwhile it has been and Gerry started it all off!
“We were very sorry when Gerry died but now everyone will always know just how important her contribution has been to us and the town.”
Mel cuts the ribbon to The Gerry Norris Wing
“She was a very determined lady”
Mel Norris was married to Gerry for 62 years and he was at the open day to officially cut the ribbon to the new wing named in his wife’s honour. He said:
“It was a really lovely day with a nice crowd of people, but if Geraldine was still here, she wouldn’t have wanted to come along. She would have wondered what all the fuss was about, as she totally undervalued herself.
“Along with her friend Helen Besson, she could be very single minded, focussing on something like saving the day centre, to get the results they wanted.
“She was very dedicated to a cause and proved in the case of the day centre that you can take on large organisations and win. I think Barack Obama pinched her slogan, ‘Yes, we can!’
“It didn’t matter if you were a Tory or Labour supporter or a member of one church or the other, she got everyone involved to campaign for a common cause. She was a very determined lady and always wanted the best for the town and for the people of Swanage.”
Further information
- More about The Focus Centre
