Events

Friends work, and hospital history, on show at archive event

15th August 2019 by Richard Batson

The history of North Walsham War Memorial Hospital, and the work of its current day Friends, were showcased at a major community archive event in the town.

North Walsham War Memorial Hospital Friends archive exhibition — *The Hospital Friends stand at the community archive exhibition*

The Friends manned a stand at the three day exhibition at the Atrium.

It showed pictures of the old hospital, its First World War predecessor run by Red Cross volunteers, along with information about the Friends’ work.

Friends members enjoyed chatting to visitors, who were interested in the hospital’s modern day role, and how the Friends support it – channelling public funds into “extras” to enhance the lives of patients, visitors and staff.

Thanks to the North Walsham and District Community Archive for inviting us to take part.

Civic tonic for hospital Friends’ funds

1st July 2019 by Richard Batson

North Walsham Hospital Friends — Civic cheque handover with Friends, councillors, volunteers and staff. Pic Richard Batson

A civic charity fund has boosted the North Walsham War Memorial Hospital Friends’ coffers by more than £4000.

The town’s outgoing mayor Barry Hester made the town’s hospital Friends his civic charity of the year.

And after a successful series of events he has handed over £4221.02 – more than twice the £2000 target he set himself for his year of office, which ended in May.

The fund was boosted by donations and money-raising events from across the community, and Mr Hester said “a lot of people were happy to help because they want to support the hospital.”

Events included cinema and fireworks on the park, a 24-hour pools marathon, bike and trike weekend, civic dinner, donated shoes sold on market stalls and in the Kitale charity shop, and a comedy night which starred TV funnyman Hal Cruttenden.

Mr Hester handed the cash over to Friends chairman Keith Jarvis at the North Walsham War Memorial Hospital, thanking everyone who helped stage and man events.

They included Rob Scammell and Shelly, Phil McCormack, Callum Tartt and Shelby Evans, Peter Edge, Judy and Alexander Oliver, Fiona Turner, Jenny Melville and Tina Foster, Anne Bullimore, Mary Seward and Helen Constantinou.

In his previous stint as mayor in 2016 he raised £1900, split between the North Walsham Dementia Support Group and the World War One window restoration in the parish church. This time he was pleased to help the Friends with their work in providing extras for the popular community hospital.

Friends chairman Keith Jarvis praised Mr Hester and those who contributed to the appeal, and said the committee was looking into a specific project for civic cash.

Recent Friends projects have included a £22,000 day room refurbishment, and ongoing improvements to the garden.

The next Friends’ next fundraiser is a Music for a Summer’s Evening concert of popular organ classics played by Jon Payne in the parish church on Saturday 20th July at 7.30pm. Tickets £8 (£5 concessions) on 07540440122 or http://www.northwalsham.eventbrite.co.uk

The trike and bike weekend, organised by White Swan publican Pete Edge, is being held again in aid of the hospital Friends next Easter.

Comedy seals civic hospital fundraising drive with a smile

15th June 2019 by Richard Batson

Stand-up comedy provided a fun finale to a year-long appeal helping a north Norfolk hospital support group.

Top TV comic Hal Cruttenden headlined an evening of laughter that rounded off a civic fundraising drive in aid of the Friends of North Walsham War Memorial Hospital.

The Stand Up for North Walsham night raised £615 for the Friends, who were outgoing mayor Barry Hester’s charity of the year.

The event, watched by a 150-strong audience at the Atrium, brought the total generated by the mayor for the Friends during his year of office to around £4200.

During the year other events ranged from shoe sales and market stalls to a trike and bike show and civic dinner.

Mr Hester said: “The comedy night came just after my year as mayor ended but it was a great way to finish the fundraising – with a new event for the town that people supported and enjoyed.”

Friends chairman Keith Jarvis added: “We are really grateful for Barry’s support during his year as mayor which has raised funds for, and awareness of, what we do.”

The Friends use public fundraising and donations to buy “extras” for the town’s popular hospital, ranging from a recent £22,000 day room revamp to Christmas presents for patients.

Headliner Hal, a well-known face on television’s Mock the Week and Have I Got News for You, combined his wry look at middle aged life with topical and political “rants”.

He was supported by up-and-coming regional comedians Nelson Gombakomba, Josh Ryan, and Alexander Oliver, who also organised the line-up and compered the evening, plus Ross McGrane, who stepped in at the last moment for Phileo Huff, whose wife went into labour just hours before the event.

Bikes and trikes boost Friends’ funds

22nd April 2019 by Richard Batson

An Easter motorbike event at North Walsham revved up some fundraising for the town’s hospital Friends group.

Trike and Bike Show - Friends secretary Angie Batson rides sidecar with mayor Barry Hester with bike owner Jake Silk in the background. — Trike and Bike Show – Friends secretary Angie Batson rides sidecar with mayor Barry Hester with bike owner Jake Silk in the background.

The two day Trike and Bike Show Easter Eggstravanza attracted more than 60 bikes, including restored vintage machines and sidecars, to the Market Place on Sunday.

Trike and Bike show - Mayor Barry Hester (right) with Tony Allen and his 1960 Norton Dominator — Trike and Bike show – Mayor Barry Hester (right) with Tony Allen and his 1960 Norton Dominator

It was organised by White Swan publican Peter Edge and biker regulars Mike and Christine Bullimore and also included live music at the pub on Sunday from the Hillbilly Goats Gruff and The Bluejacks and Grease Monkeys the town football club on the Saturday night.

Friends secretary Angie Batson with a Chevvy at the Trike and Bike Show

It raised around £250 to be split between the North Walsham War Memorial Hospital League of Friends, which is the mayor Barry Hester’s civic charity of the year, and the National Association for Bikers with a Disability.

Hospital unveils day room makeover and says ‘that’s what Friends are for’

29th January 2019 by Richard Batson

A £22,000 facelift has turned the hospital day room into a welcoming space where patients and visitors can relax and reminisce.

North Walsham War Memorial Hospital, Day Room, Friendship Room, Norman Lamb, Keith Jarvis — MP Norman Lamb with guests at the opening of the revamped Friendship Room at North Walsham War Memorial Hospital. Pic by Richard Batson

The project at North Walsham War Memorial Hospital was paid for by the League of Friends, which channels public funding donations into “extras” to benefit patients, families and staff.

The day room has been renamed the Friendship Room in recognition of the Friends’ work and to reflect its use as space where patients and visitors can relax and chat away from the wards.

It was officially opened by MP Norman Lamb who said it showed the value of the Friends’ work, and the strength of community support for the hospital.

The hospital, which also has social care and clinics such as physiotherapy, fitted the new long term NHS vision to deliver more care closer to people’s homes he added.

One wall of the refurbished Friendship Room has been transformed with a giant mural of a sun-dappled woodland, and another adorned with archive pictures of the hospital and town as a conversation piece for patients.

Friends chairman Keith Jarvis said the group was formed in 1949, two years after the NHS and had a proud history of supporting the local hospital – from providing a new training room to Christmas gifts for patients.

The day room project also includes a new television, blinds, flooring and furniture. It is also planned to renew furniture in the garden patio area outside the day room, for people to enjoy in good weather.

Among the guests at opening was town mayor Barry Hester who has made the Friends his civic charity of the year and has so far raised £2850.

The hospital is run by the Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust whose chief executive Josie Spencer added: “We are lucky to have people like the Friends who are willing to work on local initiatives like this – which can be projects we cannot afford, or would take longer to achieve without their help.”

The Friends are keen to recruit new members to help them in their work. If you are interested visit the How To Help section of this website.

Friends work, and hospital history, on show at archive event

Civic tonic for hospital Friends’ funds

Comedy seals civic hospital fundraising drive with a smile

Bikes and trikes boost Friends’ funds

Hospital unveils day room makeover and says ‘that’s what Friends are for’

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