Chairman's Report for 2004/05

Delivered at the AGM on Monday 21st March 2005

Mr Mayor, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen.

I am delighted to welcome you all to this the 51st Annual General Meeting of the League of Friends of Warwick Hospital. In particular I would like to welcome the Chairman of the Hospital Trust, Roger Thompson.

During the time that the League has been in existence it has raised over £718.000 for the benefit of patients and staff of this hospital. Over the last twelve months we have raised over £60,000. and have a number of legacies in the pipeline. The fund raising has mainly been due to the continued success of our Bric-a-Brac shop, for those who do not know, is situated at the rear entrance of the hospital, at the rear of the A&E Department. Its success is due to the dedicated band of volunteers who turn up week after week to man it. We thank the Trust for allowing us this facility. We thank the members of the public who so generously donate items for sale in the shop.

Another reason for the amount that has been raised is from fund raising events held within the hospital, and our sincere thanks go to Miriam Relins, and George Robinson, and others for their tremendous efforts in this respect. These events raised nearly £10,000. Thanks also to our long serving President, Stephanie Reed, who has diligently sold "knitted chicks" containing crème eggs to the staff and general public. In atrocious weather conditions in February, i.e. intense cold, we collected over £900 outside a local supermarket, a truly marvellous effort. My thanks to all those who braved the elements on that weekend.

We have an office situated on the first floor, adjacent to Beaumont Ward, extension 6881, but the bad news is that we have lost two co-ordinators during the year, namely Kay Wootton and Michele Davis. To date, we have been unable to replace them owing to financial restrictions. I would like to thank them both for their outstanding contribution to the success of the League, and their continued assistance. I feel it is imperative to have such a position within the League to raise our profile, not only in the hospital, but also, in the community. Their efforts without doubt have resulted in the financial position we are in.

We have a web site www.warwickhospitallof.org.uk and I thank our Vice-Chairman, Kevin Ballard for maintaining it

I said last year that the constitution would be reviewed. Well that has not happened, but I intend it to in the next twelve months. I would like to thank our Secretary, Doctor Pat Gilbert, and Treasurer Jill Denny for their continued support, and to our Independent Examiner, Trevor Wills for his professional manner in overseeing our accounts. All three have made my job as Chairman a lot easier! I thank the committee for their support throughout the year.

I thank the management of the Hospital Trust for their support and hope they appreciate the efforts made by the entire volunteering sector at this hospital. It is estimated, that a total of, £48,000,000, is raised annually by Leagues such as ours to support the National Health Service.

I look forward to your continued support in the forthcoming year.

Roy Joyner - Chairman.

21st March 2005.