29 January 2019
More than 300 audio books, together with personal CD players and headphones, have been kindly donated to The League of Friends of the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (RSH) for patients with poor vision.
Deputy Provincial Grand Master Ian Smith, Immediate Past Master Peter James and Derek Suttleworth, Charity Steward, present the books to League of Friends Shops Manager Lee Herkes
The donation, worth more than £4,000, was presented to the League of Friends by The Centenary Lodge of Mark Master Masons. It will help create an audio book library within the hospital for the benefit of patients.
Lee Herkes, League of Friends of RSH Shops Manager, said: “We received a request from a health care worker from one of the wards who suggested that the Friends offer audio books, which would be most beneficial for patients who have poor vision.
“Due to the high cost of them, it was decided to make an appeal to raise the funds to set up an audio book library, which resulted in a few dozen books being donated; so when this very generous offer was made of 300 audio books and personal CD players and headphones we were over the moon.”
Richard Lawn, Chairman of the Friends Executive Committee, said, “At the League of Friends, we are of course very proud of the large equipment items we are able to buy for the RSH because of the success of our shops and the kindness of people who donate to us or leave us legacies.
“But we are equally as proud of the more day to day things our volunteers can do for the patients and their loved ones – a kind word in the coffee shop or a welcome visit from the ward trolley.
“This amazing gift from The Centenary Lodge of Mark Master Masons combines both of these – a generous donation and another way we can work to brighten a patient’s stay in the hospital.”