The Friends of the Hospital at Rye Newsletter Autumn 2019

Farewell From Your Chairman Board Report

I have been your chairman for two years It is a pleasure to thank Gillian Roder for her now and it is time for me to move on, as I service as Chair of the Friends and to welcome am going to live abroad for part of the year. Paula Riley into the role. There will be a busy I have been privileged to be chairman at a agenda coming into the New Year of support to most interesting and important time in the our hospital and its services and we wish Paula development of the hospital site. It has been and her team every success. fascinating to see the planning for the Our development programme moves ahead. The utility buildings themselves and all that goes into the furnishings connections are complete to the Care Home site and and decoration. Greensleeves will commence building construction of I have also been able to help with fundraising events and the sixty-bed facility early next year and complete in my congratulations go to the committee and chairman September 2021. Jennifer Grenfell in all their very successful efforts, enabling us to buy some useful items of equipment for the The Hub on Rye Hill is on target for completion in January hospital recently, including three Aura Seat Cushions for 2020 and this exciting facility has already attracted a great falls prevention, two Hybrid mattresses + pumps, two deal of interest from several organisations within the replacement TVs and a fridge for the Occupational Health community, as Sally Compton reports below. in-patient assessment kitchen. Barry Nealon, Chairman of the Board I am handing over to Paula Riley as the new Chair of the Friends and am confident that she will have every success. The Hub on Rye Hill Gillian Roder, departing Chairman of the Friends HELP US RAISE THE FINAL £12,000 Introducing Your New Chairman It has been exciting watching the Hub take shape, with roof and windows complete, and flooring and electrics now progressing well. The furnishing team have been busy Having recently retired from my post as a selecting furniture and lighting, others Podiatry lecturer, and having been a are working on the implementation of member of the fundraising committee for security, WiFi and electronic systems, many years, I was delighted to be asked to and our gardening team on a take on the role of Chairman of the Friends landscaping plan. Lots more to do, but and of the Fundraising Committee. We the building should be finished at the hope the amalgamation of these two roles will cut down the end of January, and open soon after. number of meetings that need to be attended and help with communication. We are in discussions with several health-related charities, including St Michael’s Hospice, I would like to thank Gillian Roder and Jennifer Grenfell, who Sara Lee, Rye Day Care Centre, Action in Rural , will be very hard acts to follow. We will miss Gillian, as she is and with physio and occupational therapists, counsellors sadly moving away, but I am delighted that Jennifer has and other groups and event providers. agreed to stay on the fundraising committee. We are very grateful to the community who With the Hub on Rye Hill almost complete, it is exciting have generously supported our Buy a Brick times and we are now starting to plan events for next year. fundraising scheme. You can make We are certainly very lucky to have had such dedicated donations on the Hub’s JustGiving page via people over many years serving the hospital in a voluntary the website www.hubonryehill.org.uk or capacity and we hope that we will continue to be supported email [email protected] or by you all. phone 01797 223810. Paula Riley, new Chairman of the Friends Sally Compton, Vice Chairman of the Board

bringing services closer to home The Friends of the Hospital at Rye Newsletter Autumn 2019

Open Gardens Hospital Fete

We were delighted to be The sun shone and the sky was blue all afternoon for the asked to provide teas for Rye Hospital fete. The bunting fluttered and the Pimms and the National Garden food stalls were buzzing.The dog show attracted lots of Scheme on Sunday 16th families – many thanks to Pontins for compèring this. June. Eleven gardens opened across The car park held more cars than ever before, so and The thanks to the Rotary Friends provided Club for managing this homemade cakes, huge task. Pat Hughes biscuits and buns along with tea, coffee and soft drinks. Thank you to Winchelsea kindly ran the community bus and music was Open Gardens for their support in this event and we were provided by the fabulous thrilled to raise £927.76. Rye Bay Crew. Our thanks to Mayor Mike Boyd Dragon Boat Race (far right with Hospital Chairman Barry Nealon) who set the afternoon We did it! For the first time ever. The Hub on Rye Hill in motion with a great opening competed in the Bewl Water Dragon Boat Race to raise speech. funds for the Hub’s Buy a Brick campaign. Also What a day it was. thank Sixteen people you to all those who agreed to take part supported this event and and paddling to the helped to run it. The Friends beat of fabulous made over £4,500 profit and drummer Fran the Hub could be seen in its Thomson a staggering building stage (left). £2,000 was raised. We would like to thank The Old Borough Arms for Film Night sponsoring the entry fee and Gusbourne Vineyards, Ryebay Ebikes, Rye Retreat, Rye Arts Festival and Rye Chocolates for supplying fantastic raffle prizes. Thank you all for coming to support the Hub on Rye Hill at the outdoor Golf Day screening of Bohemian Rhapsody on Wednesday 11th September. Over Once again the annual charity Golf 150 people watched this Day was a huge success. Many amazing film in the thanks to Sarah Jempson for helping beautiful surroundings of to organise the event and to Rye Mountsfield. Cocktails Golf Club for the venue and all their were sipped and popcorn help in preparing for the day. Over munched to the music of £9,000 was raised for the Hub on Queen as the story of Rye Hill. Freddie Mercury unfolded. Thank you to Lord and Lady Ampthill for allowing us to host this amazing event at Mountsfield, raising over £2,000 for the Hub. Thank You Jempson’s Christmas Cards The Jempson’s Foundation generously donated £250 towards Richard Adams has kindly the Hub on Rye Hill. designed a new Christmas We were also delighted once card for the Friends. again to be asked to run the Bank “Christmas Charabanc” is Holiday Boot Fair at Jempsons in on sale in the hospital at the end of May, reception and Adams of Rye raising an amazing £602.17. at £3.99 per pack. Please email We will be there again next year [email protected] on Monday 25th May, so please if you would like to place an order come along and support us. to be posted.

Rye, Winchelsea and District Memorial Hospital, Peasmarsh Road, , Rye, TN31 7UD Tel: 01797 223810 • www.ryehospital.org.uk • www.facebook.com/ryehospital • Registered Charity 1014232