Recent Events
Christmas Raffle, November 23 - December 21
Our Christmas raffle draw was on December 21. The winning number was 0172.
Thank you to all those who participated to benefit the hospital.
Christmas Fair, 9 December, 2009
The Mayor and Mayoress of the Royal Borough and Father Christmas visited the fair. The choir of Imperial College medical school sang carols round the hospital Christmas Tree. Many thanks are due to all those who helped run and man the stalls, to those who provided things to sell and to all those friends who spent money. As usual, the bottle tombola proved a popular stall but all the stalls were busy and people were most generous in supporting The Friends. The amount raised will be posted here later. (The Raffle continues until December 18 with the draw on December 21)
Festival of Carols, 1 December, 2009
Our annual Carol Service, with the choir conQordia, and shared with The Friends of The Royal Marsden Hospital and The Friends of the Royal Brompton Hospital, at Holy Trinity Church, Sloane Square. Lord (Melvin) Bragg, Sir Malcolm Rifkind and Lindy Alexander were part of the interesting programme at this well-attended event.
Friends Week, 19 - 23 October, 2009
Volunteers were in the hospital main atrium on Monday, Wednesday and Friday of Friends Week to talk about The Friends and to encourage new members to join us. This was also an opportunity to make a donation, and the volunteers who carried our collecting tins collected over £1,200 - many thanks to all you gave and to the volunteers.
Jerusalem Chamber, Westminster Abbey, 8 October 2009
By kind invitation of one of our Vice Presidents, the Very Reverend John Hall, Dean of Westminster, an event to launch an appeal in aid of the Beta Cell/Diabetes Unit in the hospital. This very special event included Evensong in The Abbey with guests seated in The Quire, a private tour of the Abbey and a cocktail reception in the historic Jerusalem Chamber, adjacent to the Abbey, hosted by The Dean.
Fundraising Sponsored Desert March by Annabel Mullin
From June 14 Annabel Mullin, a young and fit Friend, took part in the Gobi March. This is a gruelling six-day, 250km foot race across the Gobi Desert of China. We are grateful to all those who sponsored Annabel's amazing efforts; and to Tray Gourmet who, during June, gave 50p to The Friends each time someone bought their specially-designed Gobi sandwich.
Opening of the Gardens at the Mental Health Unit, 21 May 2009
The new mayor of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Councillor Timothy Coleridge, opened the re-furbished gardens at the Central and North West London Mental Health NHS Trust's unit in Nightingale Place.
The money was raised at the Clay Pigeon Shoot in October 2008. Dame Ruth Runicman, Chairman of the CNWL NHS Trust spoke warmly about the benefit to patients of the improved environment made possible by the gardens.
There are pictures of this event in our Gallery
Annual General Meeting, 20 May 2009
President, Lord Cadogan, chaired the Annual General Meeting on 20 May. The new Chairman, Mrs Anne Halsey, was formally voted in to replace Lady Smith-Gordon whose three-year term had come to an end.
Dr Nick Rhodes spoke to the meeting about the valuable contribution The Friends have made to the well-being of patients at the Mental Health Unit in Nightingale Place by the refurbishment of the gardens and the purchase of new lighting and gym equipment. The evening ended with a reception in the Academic Atrium.