THE owner of Whitchurch House, a nursing home in the village, has acquired the Euroclydon Nursing Home, based in Drybrook,

The new operator, Ram Mahendran already operates a number of other homes in the nearby area and with the help of a group of investors he acquired Whitchurch House residential care home in May last year.

The new acquisition, Euroclydon caters for nursing, residential and dementia care and has 41 bedrooms.

Mr Mahendran grew up in Abergavenny, where his father, Dr Mahendran, was a doctor at Neville Hall hospital.

Mr Mahendran said on the acquisition of the new care home, which completed earlier this month: "I am delighted to confirm the investment in this much-loved local nursing and care home.

“Following our acquisition of Whitchurch House, which is just 10 minutes away, we are well on the way tom forming a group of homes in the area to provide the best possible care for our residents.

“We are building on an excellent legacy of the previous owner, who is retiring, and look forward to working with the registered manager and her talented team.

“Our main focus is to enhance clinical standards, invest in staffing levels and upgrade the facilities to enable a more balanced blend of self-funded and government funded clients.”

The property was originally built in 1866 for local coal master C W Brain. The nursing home has been operating since December 2010 and was run until by Chantry Retirement Homes Limited and was one of the two establishments owned by the company.

As well as operating care homes, Mr Mahendran is a professional economist formerly of PwC in London and HM Treasury. He has two young children and is based in London although often on the road visiting his care homes.