League of Friends Leaflet

Outlines the work of the League of Friends, their aims and function, how people could assist them and become involved. Enclosed is an application form to join the League of Friends.

c.1980

1 document

In 1959, when the Reverend J. A. Gibson was appointed as the first full time chaplain at Crichton Royal Hospital, he observed that there was a tradition of local members of the public visiting the hospital's long stay wards, taking patient's for car rides and other forms of involvement with hospital life. As he was eager for this type of support to continue he suggested the formation of a Hospital League of Friends to organise and extend these voluntary activities. After a public meeting a group was formed, with further meetings held to establish a constitution and elect a committee, which included hospital representatives. The activities of the League of Friends included individual patient visiting, organising bus trips, fundraising and assisting with patient's having a summer holiday. The League held several garden fetes at Crichton House as part of their fundraising activities and from 1963 to 1964 they paid the rent for a holiday home in Southerness for patients, and then a house at Rockcliffe for five years. In 1978 the League, along with hospital staff, raised enough funds to purchase a permanent holiday home to be used for patients at Southerness.

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