SIXTY years of volunteering will be celebrated in Bolton this month at a special get together for the WRVS hospital team.

Organisers want to contact volunteers who have worked in Bolton hospitals over the past 60 years to join in their celebrations.

Nationally the WRVS is marking its diamond jubilee this summer, and the volunteers have been helping in Bolton's hospitals for almost 40 years.

The celebrations coincide with the 50th anniversary of the NHS and also the 10th birthday of the WRVS run Mother and Baby Shop at the Princess Anne Maternity Unit and the Royal Bolton Hospital's main corridor shop.

Janet Fletcher, the Bolton WRVS hospital organiser, said: "This is such a special year both for the WRVS and the health service that we felt it would be lovely to have a get together for volunteers who have worked for the hospital team.

"Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust has offered to let us hold an informal afternoon tea at the Royal Bolton Hospital and we would like to invite local past and present hospital volunteers to contact us for further information."

The WRVS plays a vital part in the day to day running of Bolton's hospitals.

It provides and runs hospital shops, coffee bars, ward trolleys and welcoming services in Bolton's hospitals.

All profits are used to provide further services and in recent years the WRVS has paid for a range of projects including televisions for hospital wards to a new ultra sound scanner for the maternity unit.

Anyone who would like further information about the tea party, or is interested in joining the WRVS, should contact Janet Fletcher on Bolton 390533.

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