Friends of North Walsham War Memorial Hospital

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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.

 

Filed Under: Community, Fundraising, history Tagged With: North Walsham history, North Walsham Hospital Friends

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. 

Filed Under: Committee, Community, Donations, Fundraising

Can you join the garden volunteers team?

11th June 2021 by Richard Batson

Green fingered volunteers are helping make things rosier at North Walsham hospital’s garden.

A new group is giving spare time to prune, weed and generally tidy the grounds of the War Memorial Hospital off Yarmouth Road.

They are keen to recruit more helpers, and are using tools and gardening materials bought by the hospital Friends group.

This week the gardening gang launched into action smartening up the beds around the patio area, where patients, visitors and staff sit to relax.

Hospital Friends chairman Keith Jarvis said: “We are delighted to see the volunteers working on the garden, where we are also funding new benches and picnic tables. The gardens are a lovely place to sit away from the ward, and where staff can enjoy a well-earned break outside.”

The Friends have bought wheelbarrows and compost for the helpers, who are a mix of local people and Aviva co-workers carrying out a corporate community project. The Norfolk Community and Health Care Trust, which runs the North Walsham unit, has also bought garden tools from its charity fund to help the project.

Volunteer co-ordinator Wendy Bryant explained: “We were all set up to launch this in April – then lockdown happened. So now we are getting the group off the ground for the first time, and they are already making a difference.”

She appealed for any other keen gardeners to join the hospital team. They can either drop in on their own, or work with volunteer colleagues. Anyone interested should contact wendy.bryant@nchc.nhs.uk

Filed Under: Community Tagged With: North Walsham Hospital Friends, Volunteers

Friends committee starts working on latest projects

26th May 2021 by Richard Batson

It’s been seven months – but the Friends committee is back in face-to-face action.

We have held our first meeting since early November and are raring to go with lots of ideas to improve life for the hospital’s patients, staff and visitors.

Not that we have been idle during our half year in lockdown. We have been keeping in contact via phone and Zoom, and kept up our support through schemes as diverse as goodie parcels for the hard-working staff to an uplifting mural outside one of the wards.

We are now looking into upgrading the garden furniture to help people enjoy sitting in the grounds either as visitors or staff taking a well-earned break.

Also on our agenda is improving the Wild Flower Meadow on the left hand side of the driveway, resurrecting plans for a visitors’ overnight room that was put on ice during the pandemic, and talking to health trust chiefs about how best to spend a family legacy.

It was good to welcome to our meeting Carol Plunkett the charity development and project manager for the Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust, and we look forward to working with her. She was even greeted by a family of small deer in the grounds!

We will update you on our projects on this page in the coming months. For more information on the work of the Friends, and to find out how you can support us, please click here.

Filed Under: Committee Tagged With: North Walsham Hospital Friends

Young artist’s mural turns hospital brick wall into a wildlife wonderland

30th March 2021 by Richard Batson

A dull brick wall at the hospital has been transformed into an idyllic rural river scene by a talented young artist.

Sophie Cane’s mural is brightening the outlook for patients, staff and visitors.

But her biggest work yet will also help launch her art career having just been awarded a Master’s degree with merit in communication design from the Norwich University of the Arts, following an earlier BA in illustration.

The 8ft by 6ft picture shows water, woodland, and flowers, with cut-out creatures from a kingfisher and heron to butterflies and bees, added to literally add another dimension.

North Walsham War Memorial Hospital mural by Sophie Cane
Kingfisher
North Walsham War Memorial Hospital mural by Sophie Cane
A bee bumbling among the wild flowers
North Walsham War Memorial Hospital mural by Sophie Cane
A heron by the waterside

It has been mounted on a plain brick wall at the hospital where the Friends responded to staff pleas to improve the boring view. The Friends appealed for local artists and chose Sophie, 23, from Litcham near Dereham, who has spent countless hours on the project since finishing her degree.

She said: “Before the latest lockdown I drove around the area and took pictures of places so the work reflected the local countryside. The water is based on Ebridge Mill, but I also went to Captain’s Pond at Westwick and Little London.

“It has been a challenge – because it is by far the biggest piece I have ever done, but I am really pleased with it, and hopes it shows that my work can by scaled up to give a big impact.”

Sophie did the work in the paint shop of her gunstock maker dad Gary, using acrylic vinyl scenery paint on marine plywood.  She  is hoping to find work doing murals, or larger scale art – in contrast to the smaller nature-themed jewellery and pet portraits she sells online at Etsy.

Hospital Friends chairman Keith Jarvis said: “We are delighted with the mural Sophie has done for us. It really brings a piece of local countryside into the hospital, and is much more pleasant to look at than bricks and mortar.

“Sophie approached the project with energy and enthusiasm, and if it helps showcase her talent to kick-start her art career that will be a bonus.”

The Friends paid for the mural project using their funds which come from public donations and legacies which provide “extras” at the hospital. They have also included weekly goody parcels to boost the morale of staff working long shifts in full protective gear during the Covid crisis.

See more of Sophie’s work at www.sophiecaneillustration.com

We wish her well in her career. 

 

Filed Under: Community, Fundraising Tagged With: North Walsham, North Walsham Hospital Friends, Sophie Cane

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Chairman

Keith Jarvis
15 Primrose Close
Trunch NR28 0QH

Tel: 07788 889853

Secretary

Angela Batson
30 Beechlands Park
Southrepps NR11 8NT

Tel: 07775 557381

Treasurer

Carol Willgress
6 Rayna Loke
North Walsham, NR28 0FJ

Tel: 01692 402018

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© 2022 · Friends of North Walsham War Memorial Hospital, Yarmouth Road, North Walsham, Norfolk NR28 9AP. Tel: 01692 408000
Registered charity number 298857
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