A hospital league of friends group has opened a new chapter with a new team at its helm.

A question mark hung over the future of the group at North Walsham since long-serving duo Brian Elliott and Brian Blackburn said it could fold unless new blood came along to run it.

But a new chairman, secretary and treasurer have stepped forward and are urging the public to continue their support for the North Walsham War Memorial Hospital League of Friends.

Incoming chairman Keith Jarvis, from Trunch, worked in the estates section of the health service for 29 years including dealing with North Walsham before retirement. He is also a governor at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, and chairman of North Walsham Rugby club.

He said: “The two Brians have done a brilliant job, but the friends are in good hands and will continue to be a link between the community and the hospital.”

New secretary is Angela Batson, admissions assistant at Gresham’s School, and treasurer is Carol Willgress, a former catering equipment company office manager – both from Southrepps.

Mr Elliott, who has been chairman for the past 36 years, said it was the end of an era for him and Mr Blackburn, who had served for 31.

“I have been proud of what we have achieved, from providing equipment to helping save the hospital from closure threats – but we could not have done it without the support of the public.”

Mr Blackburn said that over his 31 years the Friends had spent £714,328 on equipment for patients and staff as well as the new Dewing Suite training centre, but remarkably had never had to seek fund raising. It had all come from public donations, legacies and money in lieu of flowers at funerals.

At the annual meeting on Friday (September 15th) which approved the new officers, Friends member Margaret Johnson praised the expertise, tenacity and commitment of the two Brians – who she called the “dynamic duo”.

People can support the friends by making donations and through legacies. Contact Mr Jarvis on 07788 889853.

A Friends group supporting a North Norfolk community hospital has put out a rallying call for new key officials to carry on its vital work.

Since it launched in 1949, the North Walsham War Memorial Hospital League of Friends has provided buildings, medical equipment, improvements and extras worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.

It also played a key campaigning role in saving the unit during a community hospitals shake-up nearly a decade ago.

But its chairman for the past 36 years, Brian Elliott, fears its proud record could come to an end unless new members come forward to take on leading roles.

“Without the Friends, there might not be a hospital, and we have provided a lot of facilities that would not have otherwise have been funded. But the committee is getting old and we need younger people to take over otherwise we will have to fold.”

The Friends are keen to recruit a new chairman, treasurer and secretary ahead of an extraordinary general meeting being called for August 25 to discuss the crisis.

Mr Elliott, 82, aims to step down this year along with secretary and treasurer Brian Blackburn, 78, who has served for 31 years.

During the past 10 years the Friends have given more than £370,000, buying everything from a suite of training rooms – thanks to a big legacy gift from Charles Dewing – to televisions, specialist mattresses and a wild flower meadow.

The revamped hospital now has 24 beds for post-operative, geriatrics and palliative patients, along with physiotherapy and social services.

Hospital chiefs have praised the work of the friends, with Gary Wiltshire, fundraising manager for the Norfolk Community Health and Care Charitable Fund, saying: “It would be hard to over-estimate the benefits that the Friends have brought to the hospital and its patients, families and the wider community over the years.

“Not only is there the donations that have provided many important improvements in care and facilities, but the Friends provide a vital and supportive personal link between the hospital’s staff and the local community.”

To help the friends contact Mr Elliott on 01692 405105 or email bridaph428@outlook.com

• That’s what Friends are for
• Some of items the Friends have bought in recent years include:
• 2009: Epidot scanner, armchairs, mattress covers
• 2010: hoist, chairs
• 2011: hoist slings, camera
• 2012: TVs for new hospital, mattresses and crash mats
• 2013: chairs, stools, exercise steps, restoration of war memorial, bike shed, garden furniture
• 2014: gait analysis software, powered recliner chair, summer house repairs, bench for war memorial
• 2015: manual recliner
• 2016: Dewing Suite, wild flower meadow
• 2017: Dewing Suite equipment
• They also fund Christmas decorations and goodies for patients every year