As we welcome the new year, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the incredible achievements of Bedford Hospital Charity and Friends.
We’ve not written an annual report in this way before, so we’ve included achievements as presented at our recent AGM (1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024) and significant achievements up to the end of 2024.
We’ll begin with some goodbyes
While we’ve celebrated many milestones, it’s also been a year of heartfelt farewells to two of our longest-serving supporters.
We fondly remember Sir Samuel Whitbread KCVO, our former Chairman of Trustees, and Dorothy Ward OBE DL, both of whom passed away in 2023.
Their legacies of dedication and generosity will always be a cornerstone of our charity.
We also have some goodbyes amongst our Trustees, Helen Nellis DSc MA Barrister CVO CStJ has been a most valuable Trustee for many years but will now step back and become an Ambassador for the charity.
Our Chairman Dr Vaughan Southgate DL who has also been with us for many years will retire at the end of March. Mr Tim Morley has also stepped down and will continue to support the charity from afar. Our most sincere thanks for all their wisdom, hard work and energy on behalf of the charity.
A year of highlights and hope
In early April 2023, we began exploring an exciting opportunity to help Bedford Hospital acquire a state-of-the-art cardiac CT scanner. This marked the start of a year filled with community spirit, remarkable fundraising efforts, and tangible improvements to patient care.
Also in April, 14 runners took part in the London Marathon, raising thousands between them.
May brought the Coronation Golf Day, a heartfelt event organised by David Donnelly in memory of his three brothers who sadly passed away during the early days of the pandemic.
Held across two venues, The Bedfordshire and Mowsbury Golf Clubs, the day culminated in a memorable dinner and raised an astonishing £27,000. June was a time for community connection as we joined the Flitton Potato Race, one of the hospital’s catchment area’s signature events.
With a charity stand enthusiastically manned by Felicity and her team, we raised awareness and funds, thanks to the event’s organiser, Simon Sadler. July marked the NHS’s 75th birthday, and we celebrated in style with over 1,250 cakes distributed across the hospital and its outposts.
Special thanks go to La Rondine and its owner, Sav, who generously contributed 20% of the cakes.
Transforming healthcare at Bedford Hospital
A groundbreaking moment came in July 2023 when the hospital installed a surgical robot, funded by a £900,000 donation from the charity – nearly half the total cost.
This advanced technology opens up a new era of precision and flexibility in surgery at Bedford Hospital.
September saw the opening of the stunning Clifton Ibbett CT Suite in A&E, a significant milestone for the hospital. Shortly after, we enjoyed the annual charity ball, an event brilliantly orchestrated by Jacqui with help from many dedicated volunteers.
In October, we hosted a fascinating event showcasing the surgical robot, offering attendees the chance to try it out (safely, of course). It was a wonderful way to highlight this innovative technology’s impact on patient care.
Festive cheer and steadfast support in 2024
The Bedford Christmas Tree Festival in St Paul’s
In April 2024, local runners pounding the pavements once again taking part in the London Marathon. This time the team of 19 raised over £31,000. Some will be taking part again in 2025, and we’ll bring you more about the team soon.
December brought the much-loved Christmas Tree Festival and concert, which raised over £23,000 for the charity and St Paul’s Church. Huge thanks to Margaret Oakley and her team for making this festive tradition such a success.
In December 2024, the Christmas Tree Festival team amazed us even further with another incredible event, this time they raised £23,000.
The Magic of Christmas, Bedford’s annual Tree Festival at St Paul’s, raised a further £23,000 for Bedford Hospital Charity & Friends and St Paul’s Church. Approaching a quarter of a million raised since the Festival was launched in 2001, the Festival organisers hope this year’s 25th Festival will break £250,000!
Throughout this time, our Tuesday hospital stall has been a reliable source of funds and a visible presence for the charity, thanks to the tireless efforts of Molly, Felicity, Connie, Peter, and the team.
They do a stellar job and words alone cannot express the debt of gratitude we owe them for making sure the Tuesday stall is always available.
Looking ahead
As we step into 2025, we are thrilled to report that the cardiac CT scanner we explored last year has now been realised. This achievement concludes an extraordinary year in which the charity contributed over £2.5 million to Bedford Hospital.
This figure represents not just financial support but a heartfelt commitment to improving healthcare for our community.
Additionally, we are proud to announce the launch of our Children’s Cancer Services Appeal, which aims to transform the care provided to young cancer patients at Bedford Hospital. This vital initiative represents our ongoing dedication to supporting the most vulnerable members of our community.
Rob (centre) and Debbie (far right) from BHC&F with Bedford Hospital Riverbank Ward staff.
We’ll report more on the progress of appeals begun in 2024 in later reports, but for now, our deepest gratitude goes to our Trustees, Executive Committee, members, and supporters.
Your energy, wisdom, and generosity continue to make Bedford Hospital Charity and Friends a beacon of hope and support for our hospital and its patients.
Thank you for being part of our journey – here’s to another remarkable year ahead.
