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Panto fun brought to 40th birthday party - VIDEO
A VOLUNTARY group supporting the work of a Sheffield hospital celebrated their 40th anniversary in style - with a visit from Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.
The cast of the pantomime, which opens at the Lyceum on Friday, took a break from their busy rehearsal schedule to pay a visit to the Northern General Hospital to join in the birthday celebrations of their League of Friends.
"It was a lot of fun to have the cast with us and certainly a unique way to celebrate our anniversary," said Sylvia Drabble, aged 72, who has been a volunteer with the League of Friends for more than 20 years.
This year's cast includes BBC's Toby Foster, eighties pop icon Toyah Willcox, Damian Williams as the Dame, Kate Quinell as Snow White, Andrew Alexander as the Prince, and of course the seven dwarves.
The cast chatted with the volunteers over tea and cake, and even started an impromptu tea dance.
"It's been lovely to see everyone and particularly nice to visit one of the hospitals wards which has benefited over the years from the League of Friends hard work," said Damian Williams who plays Nurse Nelly in the Christmas production.
The organisation has been involved in many important projects over the years, including setting up a bus to help patients and visitors get around, providing art and other therapies on Palliative Care and Spinal Injuries wards, and most recently an electronic patient feedback scheme which allows the hospital to find out patient views and make improvements to services.
"I enjoy volunteering with the league and I have seen a lot of changes over the years," Sylvia added.
"It has been very rewarding to be part of its work and seeing how it helps patients. I hope to continue for as long as I can."
Sir Andrew Cash, chief executive of Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said everyone at the hospital was extremely grateful for the hard work and fundraising the League had done during its 40 year history.
"The League of Friends dedication and help over the years has been remarkable," he said.
"We would like to thank them for all their efforts over the years which has without doubt helped thousands of patients and made the hospital a better place."
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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