Friends of Westminster Memorial Hospital and Save our Beds

02/03/2026

******* Tesco Community Book Exchange *******

If you having an old books you would be willing to donate, please bring them to either Tesco or the hospital reception.

Equally, why not have a look through the constantly changing book titles and pick up a new read for a small donation.

Over the coming months Tesco are supporting various good causes and from today all money raised will go towards Shaftesbury's palliative care suite, the 'JLU' - John & Patsy Lindsey Unit.

Following the all too early passing in the JLU of one of their longest serving and much loved members of staff, Tesco, alongside family and friends, have been raising funds for the palliative care suite.

You can easily support the this award-winning unit by simply bringing any unwanted books to either Tesco or the hospital reception.

Thank you always for your support your local community hospital.

27/02/2026

********** Hospital/Park Walk yew hedge **********

Our 2024/2025 Appeal to replace the dead or dying privet hedge along Park Walk is almost complete with only some irrigation and snow drops to go.

Enormous thanks to Kevin and Steve for working so hard to resurrect the border between Park Walk and the Hospital and also to all the volunteers that that helped make our 2-year project happen:
Clayesmore School
Chris Cooper and his team at Grass and Grounds
Graham Hatherley
Hospital garden volunteers
Johnsons Service Group
WMH staff..and all those who helped fundraise to make this happen.

Thanks also to Shaftesbury Town Council for providing a grant from the Coppice Street Car Park fund to promote tree planting in Shaftesbury.

27/02/2026

15/02/2026

*************** FRIEND'S APPEAL 2024/25 ***************

With all our fundraising completed, the next couple of weeks will see another 100 yews planted, along with willow screening, to replace those yews sadly lost to the weather and to complete the project.

If you are walking down Park Walk, please excuse the disruption while the existing hedge is cut down, dug out and replaced with 5-year old yews.

Over the next 5 years or so, we look forward to the yews growing into a smart formal hedge befitting of Shaftesbury's promenade.

Thank you to all those who have donated both time and money to see this project through.

30/12/2025

******** HAPPY NEW YEAR ********

All departments received a little thank you of tea, coffee and biscuits for Christmas from the Friends. We wish all the amazing staff working at the Hospital, 1 and 2 Abbey Walk very best wishes for 2026.

17/06/2025

***** THANK YOU TO THE 7 VOLUNTEERS *****

Thank you to Neighbourly for arranging the 7 tireless volunteers from Johnson Service Group to help improve the hospital garden.

An enormous thank you to the magnificent 7…

Cameron V
Cassie P
Clare S
Kelly R
Madli I
Sally P
Sam W

…who spent their day toiling under a hot sun to improve the look and prospects of our new Yew hedge. The result is a fine looking hedge in the making and an improved vista along Park Walk.

We must not forget Terry and Julie who gave us a day of help as well!

15/06/2025

An enormous thank you to all the wonderful staff at WMH for being there when it counts!

A visitor to Shaftesbury was left with a broken elbow, a long wait for help – and a deep appreciation for the kindness of local people.

Marilyn Bailey contacted Alfred to share the story of her friend from Yorkshire, who was visiting the town for the first time. While walking along Shaftesbury Street, the woman tripped and fell, sustaining an obvious elbow fracture.

LISTEN: https://soundcloud.com/thisisalfred/shaftesbury-visitor-moved-by-acts-of-kindness-after-six-hour-ambulance-wait-warning

“I rang 999 and unfortunately an ambulance was going to take six to seven hours,” Marilyn said.

Despite the delay, the pair were quickly surrounded by locals offering assistance. Two young women stopped to help, and a nearby resident—thought to live at Chase Lodge—brought out a drink and biscuits when she learned the injured woman was diabetic.

“Numerous cars stopped. A lovely man in a van who used to be a lifeguard in Cornwall got out and tried to keep her calm,” Marilyn added. “Then an off-duty doctor pulled over. He gave advice on her diabetes, checked her over and offered real reassurance.”

The former lifeguard even drove Marilyn home so she could collect her car. They were advised to go directly to Shaftesbury’s Memorial Hospital, where Marilyn said they received “superb service” from staff who administered painkillers and advised a trip to Salisbury A&E.

Although her friend eventually had to return to Yorkshire for surgery closer to home, Marilyn says the experience—while distressing—left them both touched by the kindness they encountered.

“It was devastating and ruined our weekend, but she saw the very best of humanity,” Marilyn said. “That came out in Shaftesbury.”

21/05/2025

********** Free Mindfulness and relaxation session **********

Tilly says come and join Hannah, any Sunday evening from 5-6pm, for an adult Mindfulness and relaxation session.

20/04/2025

********** HAPPY EASTER ********

An enormous thank you to Myles for organising, and Tesco for donating, Easter eggs for all the staff at WMH as well as 1 and 2 Abbey Walk.

Kind gestures such as these Easter eggs are a little reminder of how much we value all of the kind and dedicated teams who look after both our physical and mental wellbeing in and around Shaftesbury.

The Friends wish you all a very Happy Easter.

19/03/2025

******** Grub-hub day 2 - first phase ********

Thank you to our garden volunteers for planting the first 60 yews, at the end of February, in a project that will, in time, provide a formal Park Walk vista along the Hospital garden.

By removing the dead privet hedge and replacing it with the yew, there will be a hedge more in keeping with the neighbouring Abbey and one that could still be there in hundreds of years.

19/03/2025

March hares are this month's craft session with patients at Shaftesbury Hospital, thanks to the continued funding from Friends of Westminster Memorial Hospital, we offer weekly arts, crafts, storytelling and music on the wards.

01/02/2025

******** Grub-hub day - first phase ********

Friday saw the beginning of a plan to remove the dead privet hedge along Park Walk and replace it with more traditional yew hedging.

The dead hedge was removed and chipped, the roots dug-up and cleared of weeds, compost dug-in, all in preparation for the planting of the yews in the coming weeks.

www.grassandgrounds.co.uk kindly sent 2 contractors to cut and chip the hedge, and Neighbourly organised 4 energetic volunteers from Johnson Service Group, assisted by our 6 valiant garden volunteers and 3 game trustees, to grub-up 20 metres of dead privet hedge. The Hospital kitchen generously provided a hot and well deserved fish'n chips lunch.

An enormous thank you to all those involved for making such a fun day a great success and leaving Park Walk swept and tidy:

Johnson Service Group - Keely, Kelly, Malcolm & Sarah
Grass & Grounds Ltd. - Alex & Ben
Garden volunteers - , Chris, David, Julie, Liz, Richard & Terry
Trustees - Nigel, Julian & Justine
WMH staff from the reception, kitchen and facilities.