It marked a remarkable half-century since John first accepted the voluntary unpaid role, and in all that time his commitment has been unwavering, even organising his holidays around committee meetings.
Lifelong Ripley resident John retired from his professional role in accountancy for the Cooperative in 2007 but has no plans to step back from his volunteering role and remains strongly attached to Ripley Hospital and the League of Friends, as just “part of what I do”.
In the past 24 years the league has funded improvement projects at Ripley Hospital totalling over £2 million. At the league’s AGM John was presented with a cake, a gardening voucher and thank-you card from the league’s committee and members.
Mel Curd, associate director of corporate governance for Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the services at Ripley Hospital, attended on behalf of the Trust Board to present the hospital report and thank the league. Mel presented John with a framed long service certificate and with a bouquet of flowers for John’s wife Pam.
