Derbyshire Royal Infirmary: A friend in need is a friend IS A FRIEND INDEED

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Volunteers do the prize draw at the DRI Friends’ Christmas fair in 1993

DRI Friends chairman Marjorie Townsend hands over a machine, paid for by the Friends, to senior physiotherapist Amanda Crowley

The sale of more than 100,000 cups of tea helped pay for this £72,000 ultra-sound scanner bought in 1993 by the DRI Leage of Friends pictured here

The DRI canteen, built, equipped and run by League of Friends volunteers

League of Friends volunteers Iris Brabrook (left) and in the shop in the main concourse which was opened in 1987

The tea bar opposite the DRI orthopaedic department, which opened in 1987

DRI League president Winifred Hilton inspecting a new hospital facility

From left, the late Joyce Parker, DRI Friends chairman Marjorie Townsend and secretary Iris Brabrook

FEW would hazard to guess the number of miles Marjorie Townsend has walked in the corridors of the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary. It has certainly done her no harm.

Next year marks her 40th as a member of the hospital’s invaluable League of Friends, and, as chairman, she still goes to the hospital twice a week to carry out her duties.

She has seen doctors and nurses come and go, served countless thousand patients, their relatives and friends with refreshments and basic necessities and been part of a movement that has ploughed back more than £2m into the hospital.

She has also been among the Friends who have witnessed extraordinary scenes at the Derby hospital, not least the night of the Kegworth air crash in January, 1989, when the hospital received patients from the stricken Boeing.

“I was in bed when one of the fellows from the League of Friends phoned and said, ‘Look, Marjorie, what about opening the tea bars?’

“Of course, we didn’t think twice about it. I just pulled on some slacks and a top and we went down there.”

Some 47 people died in the crash and the DRI was among the hospitals to receive injured survivors. Recalling the long night, Marjorie said the Friends were able to help with background support, providing refreshments.

“It was good to be able to be of service to the patients, relatives, staff and the counsellors. There was a lot of milling about for people, a lot of waiting. We spent the whole night there. We’ve never had to do it again or seen anything like it; it was a real one-off, thank goodness.”

Marjorie joined the League in the Sixties thanks to her mother-in-law, “Granny” Townsend, who had been a member for several years and encouraged Marjorie to do her bit. Although already working as a doctor’s receptionist and having children at school, Marjorie took on five shifts a week and, over the years, has worked in the League’s tea bars, canteen and stock room and, of course, has pushed that trolley a fair few miles. There can’t be a square inch that she’s not familiar with.

“I can still get lost in that hospital!” she smiles, “particularly down in A & E. I can never find the lifts, which I never used to use, but need now.”

About a year after Marjorie joined, Iris Brabrook – the League’s secretary – followed her into service, doing regular shifts alongside her part-time job, also as a doctor’s receptionist. At its peak, the League had around 300 volunteers.

“I’ve enjoyed it; I must have or I wouldn’t have stayed so long!” said Iris.

“We would have quite a sociable time, holding wine and cheese evenings up at the nurses’ home, or sausage and mash suppers in the canteen. I do remember that, for one of our annual dinners, we got the porters to drag a piano ever such a long way, up onto a higher floor to the restaurant, so that someone could sing. I don’t know how they managed it. There was a fair bit of cursing. They didn’t do it again!”

One couple from the renowned Good Companions theatre group sang for the League on a number of occasions, helping to make these social events a big success.

Raising money to be ploughed back into the infirmary was a big part of the League’s purpose, and continues to be so. To date, £2,279,000 has been given by the League to the hospital to spend on equipment for patient care, the fundraising gaining momentum over the years. In the first 15 years, the Friends raised just £17,000.

But although they have attended countless “hand-overs” of equipment, both Iris and Marjorie – whose grandson and his wife are both doctors – say service in the League doesn’t mean they’re well-versed in medical matters.

“Some of the doctors and technicians go into considerable detail and, although it’s very nice, it does tend to go in one ear and out the other!” said Marjorie.

Neither she nor Iris is a frustrated medic.

“I watch Holby City and, although I like the programme, I’m a bit squeamish with the blood and tend to stay away from A & E,” said Iris.

There are no founder members left in the DRI League of Friends, but a number are well into their 80s. Holders of long-service awards (given by the National Association of the League of Friends for more than 35 years’ service) include Marjorie and Iris, Lilian Wilkinson, Anne Kavanagh, Vi Asbury, Susan Rowlinson and the late Barbara McLoughlin.

The League has staged countless fundraising beetle drives, fashion parades, jumble sales, even large-scale fairs at the hospital. Gwen Taylor – now president of the City Hospital’s League of Friends – opened one of the infirmary fairs.

“We even have the occasional jumble sale in Outpatients… they would be horrified now!” said Marjorie.

These sorts of events have been scaled down today, although they do still have the odd stall in the main concourse.

“At the end of all this, although there are times in the past when you might have had a rough day, on the whole I’ve enjoyed it – that’s the main thing. It’s enjoyable,” said Iris.

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