Hawkhurst Community Hospital League of Friends
Who We Are
Our History
The Hawkhurst Community Hospital League of Friends was formed in May 1967 under the chairmanship of Mr Richard (‘Dick’) Thompson in order to promote organised fund raising. The LoF adopted the constitution on 15 May 1967 and amended it on 30 April 1992 and again on 23 April 2009.
Since its formation, the League has completed many projects to support the health and wellbeing of the community. For example, these include:
- Purchasing of cryotherapy equipment for the North Ridge Surgery
- Donating an automated external defibrillator to the Hawkhurst Community, First Responder Team
- Donating a bath hoist to the hospital
- Donating towards the Heartenoak playground and much more!
Our Support
The Trustees continue to support the hospital with newspapers and bird feeders with bird food. They have also added televisions for each patient and replace them as needed. The Trust also sponsors Music Therapy Sessions led by Kate Foy and her flute and taped music for singalong and exercising.
We support WRAP which is the day centre at Hawkhurst House.
The League of Friends supports the Hawkhurst Food4Families, which does a vital role in helping people in need.
In 2010, we opened a charity shop called The Green Shop on the Colonnade which proved a great success. The shop has relocated in 2020 across the road to the old motorbike garage. We considered this the right move for a number of reasons: it is all on one floor, making it accessible to all, and it has more overall room. In time, we hope to update and enclose the front of the shop, as it is open to the elements and still looks like a petrol station, which it once was.
Delighted are the Trustees to make a positive contribution to both the Hospital and the health of our local community, including the surrounding villages.
Our objectives
The main objective of the Hawkhurst League of Friends is the provision of those extras and luxuries that the NHS does not provide for it’s patients and those caring for them.
It does this through:-
- Mobilising, encouraging, fostering and maintaining the interest and support of the public in the patients and staff of the hospital.
- Supporting the work of the hospital by means of voluntary service.
- Raising, providing and receiving funds for the purposes of:-
a) Supplementing, in such manner as the League thinks fit, the resources of the Hospital service.
b) Improving the appearance of the Hospital.
c) Adding to or improving the leisure facilities of the Hospital.
d) Supporting the in-patients and staff of the Hospital.
e) Supporting and relieving out-patients and former patients of the Hospital and other persons in the local community who are sick, convalescent, handicapped or infirm or otherwise in need of financial assistance as a result of their illness, convalescence, disability, handicap or infirmity.
f) Supporting other organisations that support and relieve out-patients and former patients of the Hospital and other persons in the local community who are sick, convalescent, handicapped or infirm or otherwise in need of financial assistance as a result of their illness, convalescence, disability, handicap or infirmity.
g) Putting such funds as the League sees fit at the disposal of the West Kent Primary Care Trust or any successor authority thereto to be applied in a manner agreed with the League in supplementing the resources of the Hospital service.
h) Using such funds as the League sees fit for the purposes of promoting health in the wider community and relieving those in need due to other disadvantages related to ill health.
What we do
Supporting the Hospital
The Hospital’s future has at times been uncertain in recent years due to the varying financial constraints on the NHS. Nevertheless with the help and support of our local MP, past Chairman and Trustees the League of Friends have successfully fought off these closure threats.
Committee members meet every two months to discuss and agree on any request for funds, future fundraising events and financial arrangements of the charity. The majority of our work though is done outside of these meetings.
The Annual General Meeting warmly invite anyone who wishes to attend.
Funding over the years
Since our formation in May 1967 the Hawkhurst League of Friends have succeeded in funding a significant number of projects. These include: –
1969 – Our first Physiotherapy Unit completed.
1973 – Matrons’ bungalow constructed.
1974 – Our first Day Room built.
1978 – A new large Day Centre opened.
1980 – Existing Physiotherapy Department enlarged.
1982 – Physiotherapy Department further extended.
1988 – More improvements to Bathrooms, Kitchen and a New Ward added.
2003 – New Wing built – another Ward, an Occupational Therapy Unit and a Day Hospital.
2010 – The ‘Green Shop’ on the Colonnade opened to assist fundraising.
2012 – Completion of the Sensory Garden. Set up of Day Care Centre and Dementia Care facilities.
2014 – New TV’s for every bed.
2015 – Provision of wild bird feeders which are hung close to the Day Room windows and are very popular with the patients. Provision of wild bird food whenever needed. Several interesting birds have been spotted.
2016 – Purchased Dyson fans for all the wards.
2017 – Redecorated the Green Shop The League of Friends celebrated 50 years.
2018 – WRAP Day Centre moved from Grove Mills to Hawkhurst House.
2020 – The Green Shop moved across the road to the old motorbike shop/petrol station.
Who we are
TRUSTEES
Dr Clive Dewing – Chairman
I moved to Hawkhurst as a newly qualified doctor in 1982, was married in St Laurence church in 1984 and subsequently set up Wish Valley Practice a year later having returned from a 6-month sabbatical in Australasia.
I became a committee member of the League of Friends soon after my appointment in 1985 and have supported the work they do ever since. The new Physiotherapy department was built and commissioned from contributions and bequests from grateful families in our local communities.
I was appointed to the Chair of the League of Friends in 2022.
My wife and I have 4 children and 2 grandchildren.
I formally retired from the practice in 2015 but continue to provide minor surgery services on 2 days a week.
My hobbies and interests include playing golf and watching most sports. I enjoy walking and I’ve walked approximately two thirds of the 630 mile SW Coastal path to date. I play percussion in a local concert band.
Mr Tim Fagg
I have had an interesting ( for me anyway) working life- solicitor, actor, schoolmaster and now a Judge.
I have also been a trustee of Ashford Age UK for 40 years and was Chair for nearly 30 years. My interest has always been in the day to day care of our senior citizens and in particular the provision of help for those with dementia.
I am currently President Cranbrook Rugby Club and at weekends can be found there or on the golf course.
Mr Trevor Gilbert
Mr Jeff Newman
I have lived in Hawkhurst since 1987 (moving in the day before the great storm) and I have been a trustee of the LoF since 2018. I work in the IT industry. Other interests include dog walking, pub quizzes and riding (I am also a trustee of a local equine charity.)
Ms Bev Palmer
Mrs Jane Pyne
I started work in National Provincial Bank in Maidstone in 1964 which became NatWest. Staying there for twenty-five years. I changed direction to become an Accounts Manager for multi-pound company in Paddock Wood. I became a foster carer in 1997 along with my husband.
A life changing moment in 2001 with the death of my husband saw me open a shop in Tenterden which grew like Topsy. I then cared in the community for seven years and found this rewarding.
I joined the Parish Council in 2018, and left in 2022. Later I was asked to be a Trustee and promote the League and what we do.
I started “In a Nutshell” in September 2022, advising of “roads closed” on a Friday and “general information and events” on a Saturday the latter is aimed at helping people. This can be found on social media.
I have many hobbies and friends and my dogs are a very important part of my life.
Margot Shilling
My name is Margot Shilling and along with my family we have lived in the village for nearly 30 years. I retired 4 years ago from an interesting and fulfilling career in International Health Insurance and last year started to consider what voluntary roles might be of interest and more importantly what I might bring to such a position.
Through discussions with Dr Dewing and understanding a little more of what the Hawkhurst Community Hospital League of Friends does, I felt my relationship and communication skills might be seen as useful in supporting your ongoing work.
I am very interested in exploring what support we can offer children and their families and hope my involvement with younger children (I am a governor at a local primary school) may well be seen as useful in helping take this forward.
Mr Colin Williamson
SECRETARY
Adrienne Tanner