Friends of North Walsham War Memorial Hospital

That’s what Friends are for

Damp shall not deter them

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There was a good turnout for the 2019 Armistice Day service at the hospital memorial stone, despite grey rainy weather. 

Friends and Royal British Legion representatives at the 2019 Armistice Day service, with vicar the Rev Canon Paul Cubitt.

It was led by the vicar of North Walsham, the Rev Canon Paul Cubitt, who paid tribute to the men who gave their lives in war – and praised the 40 people to turned out to honour them in damp dismal weather. 

Wreaths were laid by Friends chairman Keith Jarvis and the Royal British Legion. 

One hospital supporter who could not attend Monday’s service left two poignant painted “poppy” stones on the memorial.

A painted stone left on the war memorial for Armistice Day 2019

Ninety nine men from the town lost their lives in the First World War and another 88 from the surrounding villages. 

The hospital was built in their memory, using funds from a public appeal. It was opened in 1923, and the original memorial stone transferred to the current building.

Their memory lives on – as does the public support for the hospital, which is channelled through donations to the Friends.  

Friends chairman Keith Jarvis, treasurer Carol Willgress and secretary Angie Batson at the memorial.

 

 

Friends’ work in spotlight at trust annual meeting

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North Walsham hospital was in the spotlight at the annual general meeting of the community health and care trust which runs it.

Our £20,000 Day Room refurbishment, which the Friends paid for, was among the examples of how fundraising is helping make a difference to the delivery of services.

North Walsham Day Room on the agm screen

Some are funded by a central pot of charitable cash held by Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust. Others, like the Day Room, by local Friends groups.

They totalled £450,000 across the Trust last year the agm was told by non executive director Lorna Bailey.

Other projects across the county ranged from a £28,000 worth of sensory room for disabled children to £1000 worth of gardening equipment – as well as dementia champion and health coach training.

The agm, on Thursday September 26,  also heard the trust had spent £3.7m on capital projects (buildings and equipment). It is also facing a loss of £12.6m – fuelled by an ongoing £6,1m VAT tax bill issue  and revaluation of assets which lost a further £5.2m. Without those two exceptional figures the loss was £1.9m with the aim of breaking even next year.  

Despite all the challenges facing the health services, the meeting was an upbeat affair, with some inspirational, and entertaining, presentations from senior executives to community nurses.

The Friends deputation who attended the agm came away realising our work is necessary …and appreciated.

Laying the foundations for hospital’s proud history

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An historic moment for North Walsham War Memorial Hospital happened 100 years ago this month.

A foundation stone was laid which marked the start of a hospital which has brought treatment, care, and comfort to generations of patients – and a bevy of babies into the world.

North Walsham Hospital Friends foundation stone
Friends secretary Angie Batson recreates Lady Suffield’s laying of the hospital foundation stone 100 years ago. Picture: Richard Batson

The hospital’s Friends group has recreated the moment to remind people how vital public support was at the beginning of its proud history – and still is today.

Friends secretary Angie Batson taking the role of Lady Suffield who performed the ceremony on September 17 1919. Mrs Batson wore an Edwardian-style outfit supplied by The Community and Theatre Wardrobe at Sheringham.  

Recreating the laying of the foundation stone.

Friends chairman Keith Jarvis said: “We didn’t want this important centenary occasion to go un-noticed, so we thought we would make it happen again.

“The hospital was built using funds and land gifted by local people, after a public meeting earlier in 1919 voted unanimously to provide a hospital in memory of the men who gave their lives in the First World War.

“Although today’s rebuilt hospital is run by the NHS, it still has a big place in the hearts of local people because of the care it provides. And the Friends continue to rely on public support for funding the ‘extras’ the NHS cannot provide. So the bond between the hospital and the community is still strong today – which is something we want to celebrate. “

 

Work on the hospital did not start until 1923 while the funding was completed. It was opened in August 1924 by Princess Marie Louise. Over the years it has carried out minor operations, and provided post-operative and rehabilitation care – as well as a maternity unit.

It was demolished in 2011 to be replaced by a new unit the following year. The original site is now a wildflower meadow.

Over the past decade the Friends have provided “extras” worth around £400,000, ranging from a new training suite, and refit of the day room, to presents and carol singing to cheer up patients at Christmas.

FLASHBACK TO 1919

Edwardian VIPs wore their Sunday best for the foundation stone laying, a cutting from the Eastern Daily Press on September 18 1919 reported.

Ladies are seen sporting their best hats and long skirts, gentlemen a mixture of bowlers, trilbies and big caps.

Lady Suffield at the 1919 ceremony. Picture EDP news cutting

 

Lady Suffield did the honours with a silver trowel, and said simply: “I declare this stone to be well and truly laid, and I trust that the hospital which is to be erected on this site will have a very prosperous and successful future.”

Guests included war memorial committee chairman John Dixon, and high sheriff Mr F H Barclay.

A string of speakers stressed that the hospital aimed to complement rather than rival the Norfolk and Norwich, and the crowd was told that it would cost £4678. Prayers were said and schoolchildren sang a hymn. The day finished with a tennis tournament which raised £5 for hospital funds.

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

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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.  

Top organist boosts Friends with concert of classics

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A concert of organ music classics has raised some “notes” for the North Walsham War Memorial Hospital Friends.

Jon Payne
Jon Payne whose organ concert at North Walsham parish church raised funds for the Hospital Friends.

The event, staged at the town’s parish church, saw Jon Payne play a programme of music for a summer’s evening.

It ranged from Handel’s Water Music to the Eurovision theme tune (aka Charpentier’s Te Deum) and raised £150 which has been split between the church and the Friends.

Jon is an eminent musician with 30 years’ experience. He was an organ scholar at Norwich Cathedral, who has been assistant director of Bradford Cathedral Choir, and has just finished a maternity cover spell as director of music at Norwich’s St Peter Mancroft Church.

He lives in Sheringham and said he became aware of the Friends through this summer’s fund-raising comedy night, which he attended, and was keen to help both the hospital and the church by staging a cultural event.

Friends chairman Keith Jarvis said: “We really appreciate it when people – including some like Jon who we’ve not had contact with before – hold fund-raising events for us. It shows the support the hospital and its Friends have, and how word is spreading about the work we do.”

If you would like to support the Friends with a fund-raising event, or via a donation, legacy, or by signing up as a member, find out more on the How to Help section of our website.

You can also find out more about our work at a stand at the upcoming North Walsham and District Community Archive exhibition at the Atrium on August 8-10 (10-4 each day). Do drop by our stall for a chat.  

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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