It was with great sadness that the Friends of Okehampton Hospital have disbanded after 60 years of support for the former Castle and Memorial Hospitals and more recently the new hospital in Cavell Way.

A special general meeting of members held on Wednesday, May 10, in the Ockment Centre attracted only four members and three members of the public. Those present understood the situation and all members agreed closure was inevitable following the death of the secretary and the resignation of the treasurer. One non-member of the public spoke against and felt the local health services needed radical change.

In the absence of any members volunteering to be nominated for chairman, secretary or treasurer the members voted unanimously to close the charity and agreed to distribute accumulated funds to other health related charities serving patients within the Okehampton District in compliance with the Charity Commission’s rules and the Objects of the Friends organisation.

The chairman, Martin Perry CBE closed the meeting thanking the present committee and all those that had worked for the charity since 1964. He also paid tribute to the public within the Okehampton area that had contributed generously over many years.