The story begins in the 1980s when the proprietor of St. Martin’s, Bernice Underhill, first became interested in working with the elderly after caring for her grandmother one summer. Soon after, Bernice undertook voluntary work at Elderslea, a day centre and residential home for the elderly.

Bernice decided that she wanted to pursue this work further and persuaded her husband, to sell the family home and buy a property large enough for their family to live in along with a number residents.

In 1986, this ambition was realised when they opened Newhavens Rest Home, a three storey Victorian house situated in Vesey Road, Sutton Coldfield. The home provided residential care for 8 residents. Bernice and her family lived on the 2nd floor of the house, while the residents had rooms on the ground and first floor.

Newhavens ran until mid-1992, when St. Martin’s opened. In 2000, their son David was appointed Home Manager. Later in the same year, their daughter Lorraine was appointed Staff Nurse after completing a Nursing Degree. Lorraine is now the Nurse Manager, sharing with David the responsibility of running St. Martin’s.

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