There can be no doubt that the League of Friends does a great deal to help fund our hospitals. The Salisbury branch of the League of Friends was formed at a meeting at the Guildhall in 1954 – it was presided over by Mayor HJ Annetts.

At the meeting, Miss Olive Williams, secretary of the National League of Hospital Friends, outlined the work of the League and detailed ways in which a branch could help the local hospitals. She said that one of the ways in which a branch could help was by following up patients after their discharge from hospital and assisting former patients in their own homes.

Canon RR Bailey, director of education in the Diocese of Salisbury said “We want to express our pride in our own hospitals and our gratitude for what they do,” he said. They could do so by being members of the League, and he proposed that a branch should be formed in Salisbury. The proposition was seconded by Councillor GC Whatley and carried unanimously.

Major SV Christie-Miller, chairman of the Salisbury Group Hospital Committee, said that since he could remember the people of Salisbury and the district had taken a great pride and interest in the old Salisbury Infirmary. Since the National Heath Service was introduced their hospitals at Salisbury had almost doubled in size, and there were a large number of out-patients coming into the city.

As part of the 65th celebration of the formation of the Salisbury Hospital League of Friends, Gwyn Blenkinsop who is a trustee, has been given the task of researching the history of Salisbury hospital shops prior to the opening of Salisbury District Hospital in 1993. Gwyn has provided two photographs taken at the Salisbury General Infirmary (taken he thinks approx 1952/3) and he invites anyone who can recognise the faces/and or pass on any information/history on the shop itself to make contact.

He can be contacted on 01722 712694.