TODAY (Friday) marks the end of an era for complementary medicine in Malvern as the Malvern Natural Health Centre closes its doors for the last time.

The lease on the centre, which has been in business for 25 years, comes to an end on January 2.

Tim Willcocks, a trustee of the charity set up to run the centre, said: “As the lease was coming up, we decided this was an appropriate moment the bring the centre to an end.”

He said when it opened its doors, the centre was the first of its kind in Malvern, offering a number of different therapies under one roof.

“Now I can think of six or seven in Malvern and around the hills,” he said.

“I think the Malvern Natural Health centre very much paved the way for complementary medicine in the town.

“It’s a shame that it’s closing but I think it’s done its work of educating the people of Malvern about complementary and alternative therapies.”

At its busiest, the centre was providing over 2,500 treatment appointments a year, and its practitioners were offering therapies which included acupuncture, zero balancing, aromatherapy, homeopathy, herbalism, different types of massage and more.

He said most of the therapists now operating from the centre would continue to practice, either from home or from other complementary health clinics.

He said: “I’m going to the Centre for Well being in Worcester Road, and others are going to the Wheel of Life Centre or Runnings Park.”

The charity which runs the centre will be dissolved.