Friends Voices

Stories of volunteers supporting the health service since 1949

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39 results

Yvonne Frost and Carol Watson, St. Oswald’s Hospital League of Friends

Retired nurses, Yvonne Frost and Carol Watson, reflect on their years at St. Oswald’s Hospital, sharing memories of their care, community, and the close relationships they built with their patients. After retiring, they continue their involvement t...

Story: Carol Watson, Yvonne Frost - Ashbourne, Derbyshire

Peter and Mary Jones, Friends of Avery Place

Peter and Mary Jones reflect on their lifelong commitment to volunteering, both through their church and in their wider community. Mary, a trained pediatrician and retired general practitioner, and Peter, a minister in the Church of England, have spe...

Story: Peter and Mary Jones - East Midlands, Nottingham

Pauline Smith, Business Opportunities for the Physically Handicapped (BOPH)

After a difficult childhood in East London, Pauline has been working and then volunteering with disabled children, and disabled adults all of her life, as a social worker but also in multiple charities, before ending up in BOPH, where she has been fo...

Story: Pauline Smith - Canvey Island, Essex

Robert Fox (Kath Fox), The League of Friends of Deeside Community Hospital

Following her death, Robert Fox talks about the life of his Mum, Kath. Robert tells of her early life as the daughter of a miner, and gives insights into both the challenges of that life, as well as Kath and her families determination to take adva...

Story: - Deeside

Kevin Madge, Amman Valley Hospital League of Friends

Kevin has been an active part of the community since he was 18 years old. He talks about his involvement with the Amman Valley Hospital League of Friends as well as his career full of public service.He is currently the Chair of Carmarthenshire County...

Story: Cllr Kevin Madge - Amman Valley, Wales

Megan Jolly, The League of Friends of the Deeside Community Hospital

From an early age Megan helped others and this led to a life long career in nursing. Alongside this she began helping with the League of Friends, an involvement that spans over 50 years....

Story: Megan Jolly - Deeside

Pamela Morton OBE, Friends of York Hospitals

At an early age Pam began volunteering to help refugees, at the end of the Second World War. Those values were to stay with her, not only in her career as a teacher but also through the many different volunteering initiatives she enthusiastically emb...

Story: - York

Delyth Evans MBE, League of Friends of Glangwili Hospital

Contributing to numerous charities since the 1980s, Delyth has been involved in her community for a long time. After some time, she saw an opportunity to volunteer at the League of Friends of Glangwili Hospital, which she took, and became the new Tre...

Story: Delyth Evans MBE - Glangwili, Wales

Barbara Wren, Brentwood Community Hospital League of Friends

Barbara started her career as a bursar at a local school. During her time there she found herself going above and beyond for the students. She took that work ethic with her to the Highwood Hospital and then to the Brentwood Community Hospital.She use...

Story: Barbara Wren - Brentwood, Essex

Ken Rees, The Llanelli & District League of Hospital Friends

Ken's story is a life embedded in South Wales. It's about being totally immersed in the local community from a young age. From playing rugby with Llanelli Scarletts, to raising money for equipment at the local hospital, to being Mayor....

Story: Ken Rees - Llanelli, South Wales

Don and Louise Wyman, Friends of King George Hospital

Volunteering to support their community began for the Wymans with the PTA at their childrens school. The League of Friends recognised their skills as fundraisers, and they were soon recruited to the newly formed group.Over 50 years later they are ...

Story: Don and Louise Wyman - Essex, Goodmayes

Edna Ellis, The League of Friends of the Denbighshire Infirmary

Denbigh is where Edna belongs. A farmers daughter, and then running her own farm, a life that had time to support the local community were hallmarks of her story. It was clearly expected, and at the same time never resented, that she got involved ...

Story: Edna Ellis - Denbighshire, Wales

Peter Green, League of Hospital Friends Mansfield & Sutton 

With generations of the family coming from Mansfield, it seemed obvious to Peter that not only would he work locally, but that he would contribute to that community through his voluntary efforts. As early as the 1950’s, he began volunteering, and i...

Story: Peter Green - Nottinghamshire

Peter Cook & Julie Cook, Aphasia Re-Connect

Peter and Julie Cook describe a life where they have been interested in the people and communities around them. On retirement they both used their skills acquired in the business world to full effect to support local charities.Inspired by the challen...

Story: Julie Cook, Peter Cook - Bromley, Londonwide

Ann Davies MBE, Prestatyn Central Surgery Community League of Friends

Ann Davies first began fundraising for the League of  Friends before the formation of the NHS. She has given her time generously throughout her life to a variety of organisation including the Church, and local hospitals wherever she has lived. Sh...

Story: Ann Davies MBE - Prestatyn

Tina Fairclough, David Fairclough, Aintree Hospital League of Friends

The 1980's, a neighbour's cocktail party, and the Fairclough's find themselves drawn into the local League of Friends, just to help out. As a Deputy Head Teacher, and an Accountant and Businessman, they are quickly drawn into everything, including...

Story: David Fairclough, Tina Fairclough - Aintree, Merseyside

Kate Owen, Glan Clwyd League of Friends

Volunteering actively became part of Kate's life when she was 16. It was foundational to her career as a nurse. Working in both England and Wales, Kate was able to see first hand, the difference a Friends Group can make in a hospital.Now retired, ...

Story: Kate Owen - Bodelwyddan

Lord Barry Jones, The League of Friends of the Deeside Community Hospital

Lord Barry Jones, an 88 year-old resident of Flintshire, reflects on his connection to the Deeside Community Hospital, and the local area.. Lord Barry began his career as a labourer in Shotton Steelworks, and later in his life became a teacher. His p...

Story: Lord Barry Jones - Deeside, Wales