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Friends Voices

Stories of volunteers supporting the health service since 1949

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Friends of Robert Jones & Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital

A photo taken from above showing all of the volunteers

The Friends of Robert Jones & Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital officially formed in 1961, following decades of volunteering in the hospital assisting patients and hospital staff. The Friends support RJAH hospital, assisting with research and equipment funding to create a positive facility for patient care. Volunteers are recruited to support patients and make the public aware of the work being done at the hospital. The League of Friends fundraises in various ways, including retail, events, and sponsorship.

1963

The League formed a post, the Organising Secretary, in order to coordinate League activities, including opening the RJAH hospital shop.

2005

The League fundraised £1.3 million towards opening a new therapeutic swimming pool named the Pennill Pool, after Samuel Pennill, whose legacy spearheaded the fund raising.

2011

The Friends had their golden jubilee, celebrating almost £5 million raised towards projects supporting patients and the hospital. A plaque was unveiled by HRH Princess Alexandra in the hospital to mark the anniversary.

2014

Helen Hughes retires as Organising Secretary after 25 years of service. Victoria Sugden takes organisation forward as Charity Director.

2017

RJAH hospital presented the League of Friends with the Partnership Award at their Celebration of Achievement Awards event.

2018

The Friends of RJAH Hospital became the first League of Friends to run a hospital Post Office.

2018

League of Friends gifted seed funding for the Veterans Orthopaedic Centre of £100,000 which assisted in securing a £6.5 million gift from The Headley Court Charity to complete the centre in 2022.

2018

Mrs. Anna Turner His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Shropshire becomes charity patron.

2020

League of Friends rebranded to include a ‘hot pink’ colour scheme and revised strapline ‘at the heart of RJAH,’ significantly enhancing volunteering and fundraising visibility.

An image of 4 people standing by a piece of hospital equipment

Stories from The League of Friends The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital

I've always thought that really fundraising to help hospitals, in research, and whatever was needed, was very important as well

Listen 00:14:05

Story: Dorothy Scholfield, Gaynor Hughes - Oswestry, Shropshire

It's such a friendly, caring thing. Not only do we care for the patients, and visitors, we care for each other.

Listen 00:11:32

Story: Ivor Ashley, Sheila Ashley - Oswestry, Shropshire

When I came in here, I didn’t have a lot of friends. I didn’t, and the amount of friends I have now is overwhelming, it’s, it just makes me so happy.

Listen 00:07:27

Story: Jayne Vaughan - Oswestry, Shropshire

You've got a lovely brand, you can see who you are. You've got high profile, you are involved in lots of things. In many ways you feel like quite a solid business.

Listen 00:07:25

Story: Elaine Tinsley - Oswestry, Shropshire

I think they're just wonderful, and they've got such a great sense of a team here, which they've worked very hard at.

Listen 00:10:23

Story: Elaine Leek - Oswestry, Shropshire

I heard this place was opening up, they asked for volunteers to come along, and listen to what they had got to say. So I came along and I thought to myself, “well,  I can do that”. I got the experience to talk to people.

Listen 00:14:34

Story: Gordon Williams - Oswestry, Shropshire

You know, you get a lot more out of it than you put in.

Listen 00:15:32

Story: Beryl Angel - Oswestry, Shropshire