Lightbourne is heading a church committee to create a spa-like retirement home for the elderly.

The "health care facility'' would be financed and run by the Seventh Day Adventist Church, of which he is a member.

The church is awaiting permission from the Development Applications Board to convert a large house it owns on First Avenue in Devonshire into such a facility.

The application was advertised yesterday in the Official Gazette, in accordance with planning rules. Anyone wanting to object to the proposal has 14 days to do so.

"It will be a facility for the elderly, but not just for sitting around,'' Dr. Lightbourne said.

The church's financial officer, Mr. Delbert Pearman, said the home would be "unique''.

It will offer a fitness centre with whirlpools, educational and other classes as well as medical help -- though only "ambulatory and well'' elderly residents will be able to live in.

"We want to enhance the residents' quality of life and not just give them a place to wind away their remaining days,'' he said.

Mr. Pearman said the cost of running the home would be underwritten by the church so it would not be too expensive.

He said it would likely be able to accommodate up to ten people.

Dr. Lightbourne, who went into private practice after leaving King Edward, said he was only on the committee which was setting up the home. He had not been hired to run it or be a member of its staff.