Interviewer

Good morning. Perhaps I could start by asking your name

Marion Faunch

Marian Faunch

Interviewer

And how do we spell Faunch?

Marion Faunch

F-A-U-N-C-H.

Interviewer

Okay.

Marion Faunch

It’s French, I think.

Interviewer

Okay. And could I ask how old you are, Marian?

Marion Faunch

72.

Interviewer

And could I ask which League of Friends we’re talking about today?

Marion Faunch

The League of Friends at Burton Hospital

Interviewer

Thank you. So what made you get involved with the League of Friends?

Marion Faunch

I’ve been in hospital nearly all my life, from the age of six, and I finished when I was in my thirties. And they did such a lot for me. And this is me saying thank you. I’ve been there, I’ve been in Worthington Walk, Wolverhampton, Glasgow,  Birmingham.

Interviewer

So you’ve tried a few of the NHS premises out then?

Marion Faunch

Yes. at the age of six it started. I got run over by a bus.

Interviewer

Okay. So we’ve just walked quite a long way down here. And your walking seems very good.

Marion Faunch

Now. Oh yes, they did marvels there. I mean, with only being six, they managed to save my foot, you know, so, and of course my eye is all right. But I was behind a bus, and I crossed over, and with that eye a bit weak. I didn’t see the bus coming down, so of course it just caught that one. But they took skin off here, skin off there, and then put it round. I’ve just got a little heel.

Interviewer

So they do lots, and lots of work. And they restore you to very good health, realistically?

Marion Faunch

Yes, they did. Very good.

Interviewer

So it was a few years later when you started to volunteer for the Friends?

Marion Faunch

Well, it was 14 years ago. I’ve been here.

Interviewer

So I’m thinking you must have been in your late fifties then?

Marion Faunch

Yes

Interviewer

So were you retiring?

Marion Faunch

I was working, but I retired, well, I had to because I was made redundant, at 59.

Interviewer

Okay.

Interviewer

And was the hospital something you’d always wanted to do or did you suddenly go, oh, I could do that?

Marion Faunch

No, no, I’ve always wanted to help because they helped me. I mean,  I had that accident, then I had skin cancer. So I had to have chemo in my leg. And then they’ve took some glands out here and luckily it stopped.

Interviewer

Excellent.

Marion Faunch

You know.  And then my eyes when I was a baby.

Interviewer

So you turn up at 59, and what sort of volunteering do you expect that you’re going to be doing?

Marion Faunch

Well actually I’ve always wanted to help the hospital because they helped me. That’s why I wanted to do it. I mean, if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be here. I had to finish work. Well, I was 60,  and luckily I got my pension then. Don’t get it now. Do you?

Interviewer

No, no. Ladies can get their pension at 67.

Marion Faunch

But I was lucky, so I thought, well, that’s it. I’d had 12 jobs, you name it, I packed it so I’d had enough.

Interviewer

So you’ve obviously been here a while. Have you always done the same volunteering role or have you done lots of different things?

Marion Faunch

No, no. I’ve always been in the shop.

Interviewer

Okay.

Marion Faunch

Yes.

Interviewer

And do you like working in the shop?

Marion Faunch

Yes, I do. And we do fundraising like tombolas,  and we’ve got a do at Linton Hall. We do  stalls in there, which is nice.

Interviewer

Oh, so they, they get you involved in other things, not just the shop?

Marion Faunch

Yeah, I mean, when Sheila was here, we used to do the outside stalls, like Tutbury Castle. We used to be in the road and selling teddies, and it was a big do. I don’t think they would do it now, unfortunately. But of course, a lot of us have all gone. Not many of us left, and there’s only me that’s probably able.

Interviewer

Okay. So you are one of the younger, and fitter ones?

Marion Faunch

I am, yes. Well, you know, we did do a lot of outdoor events in the fields and do stalls that way. I mean, I’m going back a bit now.

Interviewer

So do you have any favourite memories of your time with the Friends?

Marion Faunch

No. I mean, when Julie was in,  you know, Julie,

Interviewer

I met Julie, yes

Marion Faunch

I mean, we did a lot together. We had a lot of fun blowing balloons up for the stall, and yes, it was good, really. She was very nice actually.

Interviewer

So would you say that the Friends was genuinely about friendship as well?

Marion Faunch

Yes, yes. We all got on.

Interviewer

And do you socialise outside of hospital with the Friends?

Marion Faunch

We used to go out for lunches, and everything, when Julie was here. Me and Anita,  the one in the shop now, we sometimes meet up, you know, but not so much now.

Interviewer

Okay.

Marion Faunch

But not so much

Interviewer

Well this has been lovely. Is there anything else that you might want to tell me that I haven’t asked you about?

Marion Faunch

No,  I mean to say I’ve been in every hospital, and I just wanted to help, I can’t go to Birmingham to help there, and that’s why I came here.

Interviewer

Brilliant. So you live locally?

Marion Faunch

Yes. Swadlincote.

Interviewer

Okay. So nearby.

Marion Faunch

Yes. So, you know, they did do a lot for me. I mean, my eyes, my feet, my leg.

Interviewer

Well done. Well, they’ve clearly done a good job. Thank you ever so much.