News

Service honour’s war dead at hospital built in their memory

11th November 2021 by Richard Batson

The 179 men from the North Walsham area who gave their lives in the First World War were honoured at an Armistice Day ceremony outside the hospital built in their memory.

The original War Memorial Hospital was opened in 1923 following a public fund-raising appeal. It salutes the 99 soldiers from the town and 80 from surrounding villages who made the ultimate sacrifice fighting for their country.

A memorial stone from the building still proudly stands at entrance to the current building which replaced it, and is the focus of an annual ceremony on November 11.

North Walsham War Memorial Hospital Armistice Day 2021 — *The Armistice Day service at North Walsham War Memorial Hospital. Left to right: bugler Ian Richardson, Rev Nigel Paterson, and wreath layers Sheila Mitchell (RBL) and Keith Jarvis (Hospital Friends).*

Veterans, hospital staff and supporters and members of the public gathered for the two minutes’ silence.

Assistant priest the Rev Nigel Paterson led prayers, while bugler Ian Richardson the Salvation Army’s divisional envoy played the Last Post.

Wreaths were laid by Royal British Legion branch secretary Sheila Mitchell and hospital Friends chairman Keith Jarvis. Legion deputy chairman William McIvor was standard bearer.

Meadow makeover by hospital Friends

1st November 2021 by Richard Batson

Hospital supporters have turned land workers to give a wild flower meadow a winter makeover.

The area in front of North Walsham War Memorial Hospital has been mown, and is now being raked, by members of its Friends group.

North Walsham War Memorial Hospital Friends wild flower meadow work — *Hospital Friends Angie Batson, James Plummer and Keith Jarvis at work in the wild flower meadow.*

Next they plan to tidy up pathways where wooden edgings and anti-weed mat have rotted.

North Walsham War Memorial Hospital wild flower meadow in bloom — *The wild flower meadow in bloom*

The meadow was created by the Friends, with help from local businessman Carl Bird in memory of his mum Madge, in 2012 on the site of the former hospital when it was replaced by the current building.

Friends chairman Keith Jarvis said: “Ten years on, the meadow is in need of a bit of tender loving care, so we have given it a good haircut and rake through to help the flowers come back stronger next year.

“We will also remove crumbling edges and torn matting which have become a trip hazard.

“There are not many of us, so we are trying to enlist help from other organisations who might be able to join work parties in the coming weeks.”

Anyone willing to help should contact Keith at k.jarvis155@btinternet.com.

Other Friends news:

North Walsham War Memorial Hospital Armistice Day 2020

A Remembrance Day service will be held at the hospital at 10.45am on Thursday November 11. Last year, due to Covid, nobody except a handful of representatives was allowed to attend – but this year visitors are welcome to attend, while remaining socially distanced.
The Friends are also planning to provide festive gifts for the two dozen patients spending Christmas on the wards. As last year, due to Covid restrictions, we cannot attend to hand them out, which will be done by staff. But we will be putting up trimmed Christmas trees outside the front door and on the rear patio, and providing hampers for staff.
We have also provided a range of “extras” for the hospital, using funds donated by the public, ranging from compost bins for volunteer gardeners and shaving mirrors for patients to plastic boxes for staff “scrubs”.

Find out more about the Friends, our work, and how to donate or get involved by exploring this website.

Tribute to life-long nurse Marie Young

25th August 2021 by Richard Batson

A former nurse who cared for thousands of patients in a 40-year career before retiring at North Walsham hospital has died aged 79.

Marie Young, who lived on Happisburgh Road, rose to become a theatre nurse, ward sister, nursing officer and at one time specialised in training, at hospitals in Sheffield, Birmingham and Market Bosworth.

Marie Young North Walsham Hospital nurse — Marie Young when working at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.

When she and civil engineer husband Mike moved to North Walsham Marie worked as a part-time staff nurse mainly on night shifts.

Outside of work she was a talented musician playing piano, semi-professionally, for a dance school in Market Bosworth in the evenings, having finished her shift at the hospital.

When she was younger she also played the cello, and in Norfolk she enjoyed singing with the North Norfolk Chorale.

Daughter Nicola said: “Wherever she worked, people remember her for being a real livewire, sitting at the piano and leading the carol singing.”

She was a forthright Yorkshirewoman who worked really hard – baking bread in the morning, cycling to work, then going straight to the dance school in the evenings.

Marie, who also has a son Simon, a railway signalling manager, suffered poor health in recent years and was bedbound.

She caught Covid twice over the winter during spells in hospitals and battled back but sadly died from pneumonia in Heron Lodge care home at Wroxham on August 7.

Her funeral was held at North Walsham parish church on August 18, attended by some former colleagues from the war memorial hospital.

Nicola added: “Even when she was in hospital and care homes herself, she was still training the nurses and the carers – giving them advice on how to turn her over in bed.”

She thanked the staff who turned out for the funeral, where donations of more than £100 were made to the Hospital Friends.

Window on hospital history

7th August 2021 by Richard Batson

A piece of North Walsham hospital history has been saved as a garden feature thanks to the Friends group.

A window and cross from the old 1929 chapel were rescued when it was demolished earlier this year due to its deteriorating condition.

Now they have been mounted in a brick memorial in the hospital garden as a reminder of the community hospital’s heritage – and as a talking point for patients, visitors and staff enjoying the grounds.

North Walsham War Memorial Hospital chapel memorial — Friends chairman Keith Jarvis and painter Kelly Yaxley putting the finishing touches to the new chapel memorial

Records show the old chapel was built at a cost of £294 in 1929-30, some six years after the hospital was opened in 1924.

Friends chairman Keith Jarvis said: “We were initially concerned when the old chapel on the entrance road was earmarked for demolition, as it was the last remaining piece of the original hospital built in the 1920s.

“But the authorities kindly saved the window and cross when we asked, and we are pleased to give them a new life in the garden which is currently getting a makeover thanks to volunteers.

“We hope people appreciate it as attractive feature which also reminds people about the site’s long and proud history of community care.”

He thanked tradesmen John Easton and Kelly Yaxley along with Daniels Aggregates and Travis Perkins’ North Walsham branch for donations of labour and building materials which reduced the cost of the project.

The garden memorial was funded and organised by the Friends, who use public donations to provide “extras” to improve the quality of life for patients, staff and visitors.

The Friends have also funded bird feeders for the garden, where they have also supported the volunteer team with gardening materials and equipment.

Hospital Friends help with goodies and garden gear – agm report

1st July 2021 by Richard Batson

Garden improvements, goodies for staff in lockdown, and a mural to brighten up a brick wall were among the “extras” provided for North Walsham hospital by its Friends group during a tough Covid-hit year.

The volunteer charity group supports the town’s War Memorial Hospital by providing a range of equipment and treats bought with money given by public donations.

Some routine events such as Christmas carol singing and present-giving were put on ice during lockdown, but patients still received gifts, and hard-working staff doing long shifts in full PPE were bought weekly goodie parcels of snacks and drinks to boost morale.

North Walsham War Memorial Hospital Covid goody parcels — Friends chairman Keith Jarvis delivering another batch of goody parcels to staff during lockdown

Chairman Keith Jarvis said: “Our thoughts have been with the staff working in difficult conditions and we hope our goodies helped keep their spirits high.”

One scheme that was Covid-proof was the addition of a piece of stunning wall art by mural artist Sophie Cane – which now brightens up a brick wall outlook from a ward and corridor.

North Walsham War Memorial Hospital mural by Sophie Cane — Sophie Cane adding the finishing touches to the mural.

And with lockdown easing the Friends have bought wheelbarrows and compost to help volunteer gardeners smarten up the gardens near the patio. They are also providing garden furniture and picnic benches where patients, visitors and staff can sit and enjoy the grounds.

North Walsham War Memorial Hospital volunteer gardeners — Friends chairman Keith Jarvis (centre) with volunteers Morag Neeld and Ian Lovick

The Friends’ work was outlined at an annual general meeting which covered two years due to the pandemic lockdown.

Over the year the Friends spent £5842 and received £22,044 in donations and legacies, including a £10,000 gift from former local librarian Beryl Coston, for equipment which the committee is currently liaising with the health authority over.

Plans for the future include an overnight stay room for visitors, improvements to the Wild Flower Meadow, and to reuse a window and cross saved from a demolished hospital chapel as a feature in the grounds.

The Friends are also keen to increase their membership and find new committee members.

Keith added: “The hospital has played a major part in town life. People were born there, and family members and friends have been cared for there. It is holds a place in the community’s heart, but we would like more people who have an affinity with it to come forward and help the Friends make improvements there for current patients, visitors and staff.”

To find out more about the Friends’ work and how to get involved please click here or follow our Facebook group page.

Service honour’s war dead at hospital built in their memory

Meadow makeover by hospital Friends

Tribute to life-long nurse Marie Young

Window on hospital history

Hospital Friends help with goodies and garden gear – agm report

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