Ron Smith: John Oliver - Friends of Hawick Cottage Hospital

At the recent meeting of Hawick Rotary, President Scott Elliot welcomed local solicitor John Oliver who was there to talk about his involvement with the group The Friends of Hawick Community Hospital. This was a most interesting presentation. John and his wife Carolyn have been involved for very many years with the Friends which operates with a very small committee of eight people (new volunteers always welcome!). Describing its evolution, he spoke of the earlier days when it focused on providing comforts for patients but how then over the years the definition of 'comforts' had become a little woolly, with NHS seeking to have the Friends supply items which some might think were the responsibility of NHS itself! He also noted that Covid had created complications for the work of the Friends as some things such as newspapers could not now be provided. Friends had provided a canopy outside the building for the comfort of patients, and had organised the laying out of several garden areas but then the maintenance of such areas had had to be accepted as well.

Several questions were asked and points made by Rotary members, with Sandy Bannerman suggesting that the Friends could also support the Hospital's staff in recognition of the great work being done by them during the years of the Covid pandemic.

President Scott Elliot gave a very appropriate Vote of Thanks.

The next meeting of the Club will be the Annual General Meeting on the 26^th when members will look back on the year's activities and forward to their plans for the future.