Fundraising

Garden benches are a tonic for hospital patients and staff

21st April 2022 by Richard Batson

Patients and staff can relax in the garden at North Walsham hospital thanks to new furniture provided by its Friends group.

A selection of picnic tables and benches have been bought and installed in the grounds, mounted on new paved bases in a £10,000 scheme, which also involved extended pathways funded by the Friends.

It means patients can sit and enjoy the patio and garden behind the wards, either on their own or with visitors.

Staff, who have been working long shifts in full protective equipment to deal with Covid patients, can also spend their breaks outdoors to grab some much needed fresh air.

Friends chairman Keith Jarvis said: “We are delighted to have provided the furniture and have had very positive feedback from staff about how much it is appreciated by them and patients.

“As with all our work, the project was paid for using money donated by the public – so we would also like to thank everyone who has supported us.”

The Friends, who provide extras to improve patient and staff welfare at the War Memorial Hospital, have also recently bought radios for the wards, shaving mirrors for patients and are planning other projects ranging from an overnight room for visitors, and some special recliner chairs to a coffee and tea kitty for staff.

Recent donations include £160 from Antingham Parochial Church Council and £83 from Trunch Knitters and Stitchers’ Easter sale.

If you would like to support the work of the Friends, make a donation, leave a legacy, or get involved please visit the website www.northwalshamhospitalfriends.org.uk

Picture (credit Richard Batson) Friends committee members and staff trying out one of the new picnic benches

Easter chicks hatch funds for the Friends

2nd April 2022 by Richard Batson

Craft gifts at an Easter fair have raised £83.50 for Friends funds.

The event at Trunch Methodist Church on Saturday (April 2) featured a range of goods made by the village Knitters and Stitchers group.

North Walsham War Memorial Hospital Friends Easter Fair — Box of chicks.

Visitors snapped up chicks, eggs, teddies, and various treats and trinkets whose sale will help Friends buy “extras” for hospital patients, visitors and staff.

Friends chairman Keith Jarvis, secretary Angie Batson and press officer Richard Batson dropped in to say thank you, and explain the role of the Friends through a display board.

The morning also raised £195 for the national Ukraine emergency fund through sales of teas, coffees, bacon baps and cakes.

Knitters’ Easter craft sale will help hospital funds

22nd March 2022 by Richard Batson

A stitch in time by a busy bunch of hobbyists is raising funds for North Walsham hospital.

The Trunch group of the Norfolk Knitters and Stitchers is creating items for a spring sale which will generate cash for the hospital Friends.

The sale is on Saturday April 2 at the village Methodist Church on North Walsham Road from 10am until noon and will feature Easter-themed pieces which have been knitted, crocheted and sewn by group members.

They include chicks, eggs, flowers, hats, teddy bears, mittens, crosses and bookmarks.

Group coordinator Val Dagley said: “We have supported lots of charities and chose the Friends when we were asked by the village shop about knitting some bedsocks for hospital patients at Christmas. We could not help at the time, but we hope the sale will raise some funds for them.”

Easter crafts by Trunch Knitters and Stitchers will boost Hospital Friends funds.

Hospital Friends chairman Keith Jarvis added: “We are delighted by Knitters’ support. We provide extras for the hospital patients and staff from funds that come entirely from public donations – so every little helps.

“Our current projects include improving the gardens with new furniture and pathways, and ongoing plans to buy equipment, specialist chairs and a quiet room for staff and overnight visitors.”

The Knitters and Stitchers meet on the third Monday of each month at the village hall – to craft and enjoy a cuppa and chat. Non-crafters are welcome to drop in for some company, while some members also purely work from home and do not visit the meetings.

They support a variety of causes through their work, and have also been knitting for the Warm Baby Project helping premature babies all over the country. During Covid they made hundreds of “ear saver” mask attachments for local surgeries and care homes.

The group relies on donations of materials such as wool, fabric, buttons and patterns. Anyone interested in joining or donating materials should contact Val Dagley on 01263 721374.

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.

Garden benches are a tonic for hospital patients and staff

Easter chicks hatch funds for the Friends

Knitters’ Easter craft sale will help hospital funds

Tribute to life-long nurse Marie Young

Window on hospital history

Chairman

Secretary

Treasurer