Wrexham Maelor Hospital volunteers mark service anniversary

Maelor Voluntary Service (MVS) volunteers, some of whom have volunteered in the charity's tea bars in Wrexham Maelor Hospital since the charity first began, gathered in the hospital's main café to celebrate.

The volunteers were treated to cake and a special afternoon tea. Two women, now in their 80s, who have become great friends thanks to volunteering together. Brenda Trickett, from Wrexham and Adele Price, from Borras Park, reminisced about when the MVS first opened the doors to its café.

MVS volunteers Brenda Trickett and Adele Price.

Brenda said: "I used to volunteer with the Women's Voluntary Service before a group of the volunteers decided to set up MVS.

"The café was different then. I volunteered in the evenings and on the weekend back then, but now I do so on a Monday and Friday.

"The food has changed, we have a much wider range now, and we need to complete food hygiene certificates to volunteer.

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"The hospital is so much busier these days too. Some things haven't changed though - the fun, the laughter and the companionship is still the same."

Adele added: "The best thing about volunteering here is meeting people. Times have changed, but our customers still appreciate a smile and a chat with us.

"We've consoled many visitors when they've had bad news over the years."

The Mayor of Wrexham, Cllr Andy Williams, spoke of the incredible £2.5million that the volunteers have raised over the past 30 years and paid tribute to all who have supported the café and the charity's fundraising efforts.

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The vice chair of the Health Board, Gareth Williams, highlighted the important role Maelor Voluntary Service has, not just for the transformational impact it has had on patients through the state-of-the-art equipment it has funded through the years, but also for the invaluable service its volunteers provide in reducing loneliness and isolation and improving wellbeing.

Mr Williams noted that during its 30 years, MVS volunteers have collectively poured more than one million cups of tea for patients, visitors and staff, cut over 150,000 cakes for people to devour and given over half a million hours of time, voluntarily to support the hospital.

MVS voluteers with Ian Donnelly, East Integrated Health Community director and Steph Goss, business manager.

Lesley Griffiths MS, Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice, came to thank the volunteers for all their hard work and shared her own experience of being comforted by MVS volunteers when she was visiting a relative in the hospital.

She noted the important role that volunteers play in the fabric of the nation, with one million people across Wales engaging in some form of regular voluntary activity. One longstanding volunteer said: "I really am one in a million."

After 30 years of service to the hospital and to the Wrexham community, Maelor Voluntary Service volunteers are certainly just that.