Bobby Ball dazzles at new hospital garden

They were bringing a ray of sunshine on a blustery day to people at Clifton Hospital on Pershore Road, St Annes.

Bobby had helped the project along with and Fylde Councillor Brenda Blackshaw by donating £30,000 raised from his star-studded Lowther show last year Let the Sunshine In to help complete phase two of the garden project.

Clifton Hospital had already begun the first phase of the garden which provides a safe and secure space for patients, often living with complex dementia. Phase Two revamped the rest of the garden so that all of the hospital’s patients will be able to enjoy the benefits of being outdoors.

Alma Stewart, from Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said they were grateful for Bobby and Yvonne’s support and for all the help they received from the St Annes community and businesses.

She said: “It has taken two years to raise the money with staff and people from the community also helping.

“Clifton is a lovely community hospital and the local people and businesses really got on board helping make this happen.

“It was designed and implemented by Mark Bott and it is great for the patients to use this space.

“There were 25 of them in there the other day enjoying the sunshine.

“It also is a real morale booster for patients in the rooms overlooking this lovely garden. Yvonne was delighted with it and said she was filling up with tears when she helped open it.”

The official speech was given by Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust chief executive Wendy Swift with chairman Pearse Butler. Blackpool-based Atlas Management provided roses.