The Natural Health Centre - the story...
In early 1986, in a quiet little town called Shrewsbury, something interesting happened.
A little cafe / bookshop opened in Abbey Foregate, with a focus on helping & healing people. It was the brainchild of Eddie King, a Methodist minister with an interest in Healing. He wanted to develop it into a place that offered therapies, and so it became known as the Shrewsbury Natural Health Centre.
At the same time, a dozen or so therapists attended a meeting to discuss ways of working together. The meeting had been arranged by Geoff Hardy, a massage therapist who had just moved up from London and felt that Shrewsbury needed a multi-disciplinary "holistic" centre. Simon Hooker, a reflexologist who had also moved up from London, and shared Geoff's vision, co-hosted the meeting, which led to an informal group of therapists looking to work together.
Geoff, Simon, and one or two others then became the first group of therapists to work at the "Shrewsbury Natural Health Centre" by the Abbey. This rapidly became "the" place for natural therapies in Shrewsbury.
By 1989, with Eddie King having returned to the Methodist Ministry, and the old building in Abbey Foregate beginning to crumble, the time had come for a change. A group of 5 therapists, by now "friends" more than "colleagues", decided to create something better - more professional, more modern, to take natural therapies in Shrewsbury towards the 21st. Century. They formed a Partnership - which survives to this day - and found new premises at Radbrook Green, in South Shrewsbury, with free parking and good connections by road, bus, and bike. The new centre, called simply "The Natural Health Centre", opened in the summer of 1990. The purpose of the centre was not to make money - it was to provide a place where people could access the best in natural healthcare, with all the major therapies under one roof. Improving lives has always been the priority.
We, The Partners (see below), have spent over 20 years building up this practice. We have developed links with the NHS and other organisations, lecturing to doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and others, in surgeries, hospitals, universities... as well as youth clubs, village halls, anywhere there are people who want to discover more about the world of natural medicine. Want a speaker? Just ask!
We've helped more than 16,000 people. We must be doing something right !
A little cafe / bookshop opened in Abbey Foregate, with a focus on helping & healing people. It was the brainchild of Eddie King, a Methodist minister with an interest in Healing. He wanted to develop it into a place that offered therapies, and so it became known as the Shrewsbury Natural Health Centre.
At the same time, a dozen or so therapists attended a meeting to discuss ways of working together. The meeting had been arranged by Geoff Hardy, a massage therapist who had just moved up from London and felt that Shrewsbury needed a multi-disciplinary "holistic" centre. Simon Hooker, a reflexologist who had also moved up from London, and shared Geoff's vision, co-hosted the meeting, which led to an informal group of therapists looking to work together.
Geoff, Simon, and one or two others then became the first group of therapists to work at the "Shrewsbury Natural Health Centre" by the Abbey. This rapidly became "the" place for natural therapies in Shrewsbury.
By 1989, with Eddie King having returned to the Methodist Ministry, and the old building in Abbey Foregate beginning to crumble, the time had come for a change. A group of 5 therapists, by now "friends" more than "colleagues", decided to create something better - more professional, more modern, to take natural therapies in Shrewsbury towards the 21st. Century. They formed a Partnership - which survives to this day - and found new premises at Radbrook Green, in South Shrewsbury, with free parking and good connections by road, bus, and bike. The new centre, called simply "The Natural Health Centre", opened in the summer of 1990. The purpose of the centre was not to make money - it was to provide a place where people could access the best in natural healthcare, with all the major therapies under one roof. Improving lives has always been the priority.
We, The Partners (see below), have spent over 20 years building up this practice. We have developed links with the NHS and other organisations, lecturing to doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and others, in surgeries, hospitals, universities... as well as youth clubs, village halls, anywhere there are people who want to discover more about the world of natural medicine. Want a speaker? Just ask!
We've helped more than 16,000 people. We must be doing something right !
Meet The Partners
Avril Sanders Royle DC, FMCA, FCC.
Avril is one of the UK’s leading chiropractors. She is registered as a Fellow of the McTimoney Chiropractic Association as well as a Fellow of The College of Chiropractors.
She is registered as a consultant with all the major private health care providers (such as BUPA).
Avril, with the others, has been running the Natural Health Centre in Shrewsbury since 1990.
Avril also manages a team of chiropractors who work as associates at The Natural Health Centre.
Geoff Hardy Dip.TM, MSHP.
Geoff is one of the NHC partners, and has been practising Therapeutic Massage since 1984.
Former Senior Tutor at the College of Holistic Medicine.
Registered with the CNHC (Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council)
Simon Hooker B.Sc., MAR.
Simon is one of the NHC partners, and has been a reflexologist since 1985.
One of the first UK reflexologists to train in Chinese reflexology (Rwo-Shr)
At University, had research published on "Catastrophe Theory". Not as exciting as it sounds!
Created this website in his spare time...
Hannah Litschmann Dip.HSEC, MRSS
Hannah is one of the NHC partners, and has been a Shiatsu practitioner since 1988.
She has also practised Indian Head Massage since 2000.
Teaches EXTEND classes (Exercise for Health for Seniors).
Yanisa de Winter R.S.Hom.
I first became interested in homeopathy in 1977 when I received successful treatment for my own health problems. I trained as a homeopath at The North-West College of Homeopathy in Manchester and qualified in 1991.
I also became a founder member and partner of The Natural Health Centre.
