Matlock Hospitals League of Friends has been going strong for 58 years and has gifted over £3 million to improve health services for the Derbyshire Dales community over the past nearly six decades.
Our chief executive Jim Austin joined the league’s AGM, alongside league presidents the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, on Friday (9 May) to mark another successful year of support for the NHS. The league’s current project is the ongoing £170,000-plus renovation of Whitworth Hospital’s lodge, due for completion in the summer. Other recent big projects at Whitworth Hospital include major enabling works for the community diagnostic centre which opened in 2023.
Longest serving league member, Pam Wildgoose MBE, who has been honorary secretary since its inception in 1967, gave her grateful thanks to all involved in the work of the league, including the Duke and Duchess for their ongoing support and “for giving their time to our activities and events”. The Duke chaired the AGM.
A special mention was for Eileen Tutssel who has knitted over 700 teddy bears for children attending Whitworth Hospital’s Urgent Treatment Centre. Pam said: “It is hard to provide enough to keep up with demand. A few very welcome knitters have begun to support the scheme.”
The speaker was league member and former treasurer Sue Sunderland, who is also a non-executive director with Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care Board. She spoke about a recent trip to Bhutan.
The Duchess of Devonshire, league secretary Pam Wildgoose, The Duke of Devonshire and league chair Peter Vincent.
Derbyshire Community Health Services’ chief executive Jim Austin, league vice chair Tom Pilkington and league secretary Pam Wildgoose.