New leader for hospital Friends

A former nurse and community health council member, June joined the league committee in 1995 and for many years organised the annual street collection, the summer fete and the Christmas bazaar.

In 2005 she took over the chairmanship from Maggie Parsons and guided the league through a two year spending programme involving £400,000 on new equipment during a major NHS refurbishment programme.

She also organised key events during the league’s 50th anniversary year in 2009.

League vice-chairman David Briffett thanked her for her major contribution towards the life of the hospital at a recent presentation evening attended by hospital representatives, league members and patron, The Lady Mary Mumford.

The new chairman is Dr Judy McMahon, who worked for 30 years as a GP in Horsham and Crawley and has considerable NHS management experience.

Her roles have included development of services at Horsham Hospital during 2005 while in 2008 she became GP clinical lead for the Horsham and Chanctonbury commissioning group and helped established Horsham Hospital as a priority for increased services in the future.

Dr McMahon is due to chair her first league meeting in January.