Mayor and Mayoress bring festive cheer to Irvine Unit

More families were able to be together this year thanks to better publicity for the offer, as Town Mayor Cllr Patrick Duarte and his wife and Mayoress, Maureen, found on Christmas morning.

Following long-held tradition, the civic leaders paid an official visit bright and early to bring the town's good wishes to patients and staff alike.

They were accompanied by the chairman of the League of Friends of Bexhill Hospital, former mayor Stuart Earl, and officers and league committee members.

Following another long-held Christmas tradition, the league representatives were bearing a gift-wrapped package of presents for each of the 40 patients resident in the unit over the holiday.

As usual, the gifts had been purchased and wrapped on the charity's behalf by Harriett Chapman, chairman of its social committee.

The visit was very much a family occasion. The civic party were welcomed by Alice Webster, who as head of adult services for Hastings and Rother Primary Care Trust, has responsibility for the unit.

With her, Alice had brought her seven year-old son, Nathaniel - resplendent in festive bow tie and waistcoat.

Nathaniel soon took charge of the medicine trolley which had been pressed into service to serve as Santa's sleigh for the distribution of presents.

Explaining the Christmas hospitality initiative, Unit Sister Tessa Collins said families pre-booking could enjoy the same lunch of turkey and all the trimmings with their loved ones or enjoy the festive supper prepared for the unit.

Staff were sporting festive tinsel. A huge decorated Christmas tree in the unit's atrium awaited those patients able to sit out in this communal lounge area.

Beneath the tree was a Christmas crib.

The Mayor and Mayoress went from bay to bay accompanied by the league members, bringing a word of Christmas cheer to patients. With the league's chairman and its social committee chairman were its president, John Dowling, and his wife and fellow committee member, Ann, and acting secretary Peter Mitchell-Davis.

The civic party had a special word for one patient. Enid Houghton was Mayoress during her late husband, Dennis', mayoralty in 1990 and had nursed at Bexhill Hospital.

Enid was full of praise for the quality of care enjoyed at the Irvine Unit.