Good Friends spreading festive cheer in St Annes

Members of Just Good Friends and fire cadets deliver Christmas presents to patients at Clifton Hospital

The members of Just Good Friends, a group set up to combat loneliness in St Annes, made their third annual trip to ward one at the Clifton Drive South facility to hand out presents and chat with patients.

Bev Sykes, founder of Just Good Friends, said: “The visit was to let the dementia patients on ward one know that they are being thought about this Christmas by family and friends.

“The ward itself is run by Linda Broadbent and her staff and they are all fantastic with the patients.

Members of Just Good Friends and fire cadets deliver Christmas presents to patients at Clifton Hospital. L-R are Pauline Bishop, Tracy Gray, Dawn Johnson and Samantha Barclay

“But we feel it’s important to do something at Christmas so it was lovely to meet the patients and chat to them.

“We’ve got to say a massive, massive thank-you to the families and friends of Just Good Friends for donating so many presents for us to hand over.”

B&Q donated a Christmas Tree for the ward.

Bev said: “Just Good Friends is about making a difference to people’s lives, no matter their situation, and it’s important to do something at Christmas.

Paige Valente and Bev Sykes with patient Norah Kember

“We’ve gone a long way to combat loneliness in St Annes – and I’m determined we can do the same all over then place.

“We’ve got a dedicated group of lovely people running Just Good Friends and activities six days a week – I’m sure we can expand it even further.”