Skipton and District Hospital Friends celebrate 60th anniversary (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Skipton and District Hospital Friends celebrate 60th anniversary

8:00am Saturday 6th October 2012 in News

A charity which, over the years, has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds to provide that “little bit extra” for patients at Skipton Hospital and in the community is celebrating its 60th anniversary.

The Skipton and District Hospital Friends, which was set up in 1952 by a group of local business people, celebrated with an afternoon tea and anniversary cake at Skipton Hospital followed by a special bingo evening for their regular weekly participants.

Taking part in the celebrations were Ileana Hodgson, whose husband Norman started the group; her grandson Gary McAdam; current president Ronnie Day and his wife Edna; treasurer Judith Martin, secretary and Kath Whitaker and other regular volunteers.

Colin Millar, chairman of Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The Skipton and District Hospital Friends have made an enormous contribution to both the hospital and the local community over the last 60 years.

“They have provided patients in Craven and the surrounding area with many, many pieces of equipment, from the television set that started the group off to new screens and curtains, a minibus for day trips for patients at the former Raikeswood Hospital to the latest bladder scanner costing more than ten thousand pounds.

“But more than that, they have helped give local healthcare its character and spirit by creating events such as a weekly bingo evening and until recently an annual bazaar, which not only fundraise for the charity but give local people a chance to get out and about and socialise with their friends.”