League of Friends of Leighton Hospital closes after 50 years’ dedicated service

The League of Friends of Leighton Hospital are to close their charity in their 50th anniversary year at the hospital.

The League has raised more than £2m for the hospital over the past 50 years, funding a wide range of equipment and enhancements to patient and visitor experience in the hospital.

The charity was founded in 1973 by Peter and Miriam Andrews with a group of volunteers including Doris and Alf Jennings. Over the years the League undertook fundraising activities such as cheese & wine evenings, coffee mornings, jumble sales, car boot sales etc.  The League also had a sales stall in the hospital’s Outpatients until 2012.

In the early years League members also put on an annual Christmas show for patients and staff and a garden party was held each summer on the large, grassed area at the rear of the wards. Each ward was invited to have a stall for their own fundraising, with dancing displays and dog handling demonstrations also part of the entertainment.  

After many years serving refreshments from a trolley pushed around the hospital, a tea bar was built in the main entrance and was instantly popular, serving visitors and staff during evenings and weekends for more than 30 years.  A small shop followed, located in the main entrance which was managed by League member Pam Parton assisted by her husband Alan, and over time the shop expanded considerably and was a huge success.  Sadly, the shop closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The late Peter Andrews retired as Chairman in 2012 and was succeeded by Janet Farrell as League Chairman.  Maureen Jones is currently the League’s longest serving member and has completed more than 40 years’ service.

Members of the League attended the Trust to present a final cheque for £160K, which will fund a Vibroscope (a type of ultrasound to measure inflammation in the liver), equipment for the children’s waiting area at Victoria Infirmary, Northwich and research grants arising from the Trust’s Continuous Improvement collaborations, among others.

Receiving the cheque, the Trust’s Chairman Dennis Dunn MBE JP DL said:  

“I am very sorry to see the League of Friends close their charity after 50 years’ of such dedicated commitment and service to the patients and staff at both Leighton and Victoria Infirmary, Northwich, raising over £2m in the process.  Their fundraising and hospitality has touched many thousands of lives over the years, and we wish them all a safe and peaceful retirement.”

A spokesperson for the League of Friends said it was very sad that the League of Friends was closing in its 50th anniversary year, however so much had been achieved for the benefit of patients and staff during this time and the League members would like to thank the hospital staff and the local community for their support over the past 50 years.

Pictured - Chairman Dennis Dunn MBE JP DL (Right) and Chief Executive Ian Moston receive the final donation from League of Friends committee members.