Two dedicated local fundraisers and a team of volunteers have been celebrating raising a colossal half a million pounds from a charity shop and tombola in Paulton.
The money has been reinvested back into Paulton’s Community Hospital over the years, which was founded in 1872 to care for people of the Somerset Coalfields. Over the last 22 years, staff have created a wish list of equipment that has been needed with Terry and Caroline Wynne, who were both awarded MBEs in 2011 for their charity work, providing the goods.
The money raised, both from the charity shop and the tombola, which the couple give up hours of their time to run, has resulted in high-tech beds, ECG machines, examination couches, a defibrillator, ENT machines, air mattresses, delivery beds, conservatory furniture, scanners, DVD players and much more being provided – the aim being that local people do not always have to travel to Bath or Bristol for treatment.
The couple retired from Cadbury’s, in Keynsham, having over 67 years’ service between them in 1998, but were already running the tombola in aid of the hospital. After six months off, they heard of the original premises on Paulton High Street being free and the idea snowballed from there.
“We felt a bit young to retire,” says Terry Wynne MBE. “It began slowly, with a six month lease and as time went on, it slowly paid off – so we just covered the rent and made a profit. The first items we bought for the hospital were ten sonic aids, which enabled mums-to-be to listen to their babies’ heartbeats.”
So how have things changed? “When we first began, everyone wanted books – we don’t sell anywhere near as many now. But we always need more donations! And obviously the equipment requests from the hospital have become much more advanced, which is so beneficial to the community.”
And it is mainly because of these donations from people living in Paulton and the surrounding areas that the shop has done so well. It has an incredible amount of support from residents, which is, in turn, helping the local hospital. It has not always been rosy though, with the League of Friends always having had to keep watch on the facility, which was once under threat from bed cuts, and saw Terry and Caroline begin a petition that around 15,000 people signed. Later, in 2010, they had another fight on their hands with the threat of a temporary closure of the maternity unit – a prospect many worried would be permanent.
In the present day, Paulton Hospital is run by Sirona Care and Health, with a new Health and Well-being area unveiled in September last year – in fact, one of the first to be seen in a community hospital.
Nikki Woodland, Head of Integrated Inpatient Care for Sirona, congratulated the couple at a special tea party held by the League of Friends last week. She said: “It is fantastic for us that we have such a supportive League of Friends, which in turn is hugely supported by the community. This achievement is fantastic and has been possible thanks to those living and working in Paulton also giving their support, alongside the devotion of Terry and Caroline to running the charity shop and the army of other volunteers who give their time so freely.”
Terry and Caroline oversaw a move to larger shop premises back in 2013, enabling more room for stock and to enable the couple and their volunteers to sell extras, such as tea and coffee and local hens’ eggs. The village charity shop has proved a hub for many, including late entertainer, Fred Wedlock, who often presided over events, with volunteers winning many accolades, including B&NES Council’s Volunteer team of the Year and Terry and Caroline winning the Queen’s Jubilee Silver Medal for raising over £50,000 in three years.
As well as their own fundraising, the kind-hearted couple have also been instrumental in donating £1,000 for Harry’s Safespace campaign and £1,650 over two years to Journal Editor, Becky Brooks’ RUH Cancer Care Campaign fundraising.
It seems the couple will always be dedicated to Paulton Hospital – in fact, it was where Caroline was born. “We never thought we would get anywhere near £500,000”, says Terry. “But as long as it is fun and we are enjoying it, we’ll carry on!”
The couple will be holding a special celebration at the charity shop this Saturday to honour the work of their volunteers, from 10 a.m. – 12 noon and hope that members of the community will join them for tea and cake, supplied by fellow Paulton business, Eve’s Kitchen. Everyone welcome!