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Hundreds of hours of hospital help from caring volunteers




Volunteers who between them have given more than 300 years of service to Newark Hospital have received awards at a ceremony in the Town Hall.

Mrs Sheila Clutterbuck, who received an award for 40 years, started at the old general hospital on London Road where she was a flower and ward volunteer as well as helping in the outpatients tea bar.

She continued to volunteer when the new hospital opened and looked after the flowers on the ward until last year. Mrs Clutterbuck is now an active fundraising volunteer helping on the charity gift stall.

Newrk Hospital volunteers long service awards. Left to right trust chairman Mr John MacDonald, Valerie Bell, Michael Bell, June Howssam, Sheila Clutterbuck, Ethel Cook and Mayor of Newark Mr Tony Roberts. (4570048)
Newrk Hospital volunteers long service awards. Left to right trust chairman Mr John MacDonald, Valerie Bell, Michael Bell, June Howssam, Sheila Clutterbuck, Ethel Cook and Mayor of Newark Mr Tony Roberts. (4570048)

Four awards for 20 years' service were made at the event. Mrs June Howsam, who volunteers on the help desk and coffee lounge, started work at the hospital as a night cook in 1975 and began her nurse training two years later.

She began volunteering while she was still working and was elected on to the Friends of Newark Hospital committee in 1996. She has been the chairman for 16 years and was recently awarded the Badge of the Order of Mercy for her voluntary work in a healthcare setting.

Mrs Ethel Cook helps in the coffee lounge and started volunteering when she retired from her office job.

"I wanted to give something back to the NHS for the care that myself and my family have received," she said. "I love meeting people and offering support."

Mr Michael Bell and his wife Valerie both volunteer on the help desk. They became volunteers after Mr Bell retired from his work as a military attache at the British Embassy in Jordan. Mrs Bell had previously done voluntary work with disabled children.

The couple said they felt a sense of satisfaction from supporting visitors to the hospital and ensuring they are met with a smile and a friendly greeting.

The awards were presented by the Mayor of Newark, Mr Tony Roberts, and the chairman of Sherwood Forest Hospitals Trust, Mr John MacDonald.

"The recipients have dedicated an amazing total of 305 years of service which has enriched the patient and visitor experience at Newark Hospital," said Mr MacDonald.

"The volunteers provide invaluable support to our staff which enables them to deliver a range of high quality patient services."

Fifteen years awards were presented to Carole Gilbert, Margaret Hayes, Sheila Reid and Val Swain; ten years to Anne Carter, Barbara Duckett, Ann Edis, Jo Harris, Elaine Leary, Gillian Nice, Marisa Tabar, Di Tindale and John Toole; five years to Mavis Aston, Myrna Banks, Stephen Dobson, Trish Dobson, Pat Gordon, Jean Robinson and Sheila Saul.



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