Retirement fellowship celebrates 10th anniversary raising over £2,000 for hospital charity

They’ve reached a notable landmark and have good cause to celebrate for they have raised over £2,000 for a hospital charity since their inception back in 2012.

The Suffolk West NHS Retirement Fellowship has now marked its 10th anniversary with the total amount of money collected for the My WiSH charity totalling £2,381.50p

It has grown from very small beginnings and currently has a membership of over 100 made up of former NHS staff from across the west of the county including those previously working at hospitals, GP surgeries, dental practices, the ambulance service and many other organisations.

They have monthly meetings on the second Mondays of the month at Horringer Community Centre and at their latest meeting John Rostill, the chief executive of the national fellowship attended.

Their main objective is to have fun and provide friendship to as many NHS retired people as possible who have worked in many different roles.

And during the past 10 years they have raised funds for the Covid-19, dementia and the Every Heart Matters appeals for the West Suffolk Hospital.

Jeanette Lee, the chairperson, said members had raised the funds with a variety of events including quizzes and fetes.

“We are there for retired NHS workers in fact anyone who is coming up to retirement age and they are a generous bunch that raise the money,” she said.

There are a number of activity groups taking place during the year including book and gardening clubs, rambling, genealogy, Scrabble, canasta, photographic, history, knit and natter and sewing groups, and tenpin bowling and nordic walking, and its aim is varied by providing friendship for NHS retirees, and help and advice especially during illness or bereavement.

Jeanette added: “We are absolutely thrilled with the amount of money that we have raised in the 10 years, that’s amazing.”