The League of the Friends of Pembury Hospital

Welcome to the Twenty-second newsletter of The League of the Friends of Pembury Hospital. This is published regularly to update our existing members and to attract new members. If you would like more information about the League or matters in this newsletter, please contact Alan Davis, Honorary Secretary,

Letter from the Chairman

Our Annual General Meeting takes place on 28 April 2005, and in my annual report I will be announcing that we donated nearly £18,000 to Pembury Hospital during 2004.

Since then we have received over £50,000 from private legacies, which will be used to support specific projects at the hosptal in memory of the donors. Indeed, we are always grateful to receive legacies, however small, from people who have much to thank the hospital and staff for.

It seems that there are an ever increasing number of good causes that need financial help, but please remember your local hospital at Pembury when you are thinking of making charitable donations or legacies. You really can make a difference to the lives of patients and staff.

For those of you who would like to actively give something back to the hospital, we are always pleased to welcome members ho can assist us with our fundraising efforts?

Gary Purdy

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Fundraising Highlights 2004

Last year's Christmas raffle was drawn on 21 December 2004. The first prize of £300 had been donated by Richard Hochfeld Ltd, and the second prize of a five day return Dover/Calais for a car and up to four passengers by Seafrance. In all a profit of almost £1,500 was realised to put towards League projects in 2005.

On 25 November 2004, Mrs Diana Barber held her annual coffee morning, and raised a record breaking £2,665 for our general funds.

Our regular collections outside supermarkets raised over £2,150 during 2004. This is a sterling effort and anyone who would like to join a rota to 'shake a box' on one of our collections for an hour or two, please contact Alan Davis (details above) or Betty Law on 01892 834149.

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Lady Abergavenny Dies

It is with great regret that we advise of the death of Lady Mary Patricia Abergavenny. The Marchioness of Abergavenny DCVO died on 22 February 2005.

Lady Abergavenny was our President from 1957 to 1994 when she retired and handed over the presidency to Lady De L'Isle.

Meny members will remember Lady Abergavenny for her interest in our support of Pembury Hospital, rarely missing the AGM or the annual fete, and supporting many other League functions as well.

The funeral was held at St Albans Church, Frant on 8 march 2005. The League was represented by three Vice Presidents: Mrs Diana Barber, Mr Peter Raymond and Mrs Freda Challis.

Order of Mercy awarded to Mavis Somerset

On 29 October 2004 Mrs Mavis Somerset was awarded The Order of Mercy by Mr Nigel Branson, a Trustee of the League of Mercy, a registered charity established by Royal Charter in 1899. The League presents their Order for marvellous and longstanding voluntary service, and makes thirty awards each year.

Mavis, a past Vice Chairman and now a Vice President of the Pembury League of Friends, has been a member for over 40 years, and still work in, and helps to manage, the hospital shop..

Diary Note

The Jumble sale scheduled for 12 March had to be postponed due to bad weather and will now take place on Saturday 21 May 2005 at 11.00 am in the Functions Room at the Hospital.

Free parking is available for those who wish to attend.

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