Friends’ 50 years of fundraising

HAPPY anniversary . . . the Mayoress of Oldham, Councillor Kay Knox, cuts the cake with (from the left) Shaw Parish Council chairman Mari Wisewell; Mayor of Oldham Councillor Jim McArdle; Saddleworth Parish Council chairman Alma McInness; Ian McInnes; league secretary Anne Morris and league chairman Rose Hall

IT is 50 happy returns for a group which has raised around £169,000 for Oldham patients and their families.

The Royal Oldham Hospital League of Friends celebrated its half century with an anniversary bash at Clough Manor, Denshaw.

The group was founded by former Mayoress of Oldham, Sallie Hilton, whose daughter attended the celebration along with the current mayoress and league president, Councillor Kay Knox.

It has provided countless items to make a hospital stay more comfortable for patients and their families — from furniture and fish tanks to toys for the children’s department.

It recently kick-started the hospital’s Royal Rover appeal for a new shuttle bus with a £5,000 donation, and gave the same amount for new televisions following the digital switchover.

Chairman Rose Hall said: “At the moment we have got 15 members and we are always on the lookout for new people to come and join us.

“We need perhaps some younger people and some new ideas to raise money.”

The group meets on the first Monday of the month at the Rochdale Road hospital. People who are interested in joining can contact Rose on 0161-652 1049 or 07913-484101.