The League of Friends of Budleigh Salterton Hospital is delighted to report that �2,203 was raised at its garden party on Saturday, August 1

The League of Friends of Budleigh Salterton Hospital is delighted to report that �2,203 was raised at its garden party on Saturday, August 1

This is a very rewarding result indeed, as it was a very wet and cold day. Consequently, the stalls had to be set up within the hospital itself.

I am most grateful to all the members of the committee and numerous volunteers, who worked all the morning to ensure that everything was in place for the party in the afternoon.

The attendance was excellent, and I am very grateful to everyone who came on a wet day to support their community hospital.

There was an element of the "Dunkirk spirit" as people happily jostled from stall to stall in the confines of the hall, the day unit and the physiotherapy department.

Good humour was eventually rewarded when the sun came out late in the afternoon, and cream teas were served in the garden.

I am also pleased to report that "Pound Week" was well received, and will be expanded next year.

I would like to convey special thanks to the Budleigh Salterton Lions' Club, who carried all the heavy materials, and to the Arcadia Jazz band who played on in the wet conditions

Finally, the League of Friends is very grateful indeed to the Budleigh Journal for all its publicity prior to the event, which was a major factor in the success of the day.

Dr David Evans,

Chairman of the League of Friends,

Budleigh Salterton Hospital