Dr Ian's got the T-shirt after 46 years at hospital

IN HIS own words, he's "been there, done that" in his 46 years at Helston Community Hospital – and now Ian Wort has also "got the T-shirt".

He has retired after being involved in various aspects of the hospital's life and work for almost half a century.

Dr Wort ran a clinic there and has held a number of offices with its League of Friends committee; he is its former president and for the past few months has been chairman.

Addressing his last annual meeting of the league, he also revealed the T-shirt – and confirmed his sense of humour. The wording on it read: "I spent 20 years on the committee as the only man among 20 lovely ladies and survived."

10% discount applied to all our NCP telephone systems supplied...

A J Communications

View details

Print voucher

Order a new Panasonic NCP telephone system for your business premises or retail unit, with installation during May or June and receive a 10% discount off our already competitive prices.

Terms: Voucher must be presented to engineer during the initial site visit.
Contact 01726 871700 or 01452 223126 and quote "This is Cornwall" voucher site

Contact: 01452 223126

Valid until: Sunday, June 30 2013

Fun

This sense of fun also extended to his farewell gift, presented by another local GP and president of the League of Friends, Ken Whittle.

This was a modified golf club, complete with a warning hooter and rear-view mirror.

He told Dr Wort: "Thank you for everything and for being a friend."

Dr Wort said he had decided to retire because "46 years is a long time for an 84-year-old.

"I've been associated in one way or another with the hospital continuously for more than 46 years and as the song goes, 'It's time to say goodbye'.

"I think I've been there, done that, got the T-shirt."

Earlier, he welcomed everyone to the annual meeting, recalling that he had stepped in as chairman when Anne Cornwell resigned from the post earlier this year for personal reasons.

He said the committee was therefore delighted to say that Anne Russell had now offered to be nominated as chairman for the next three years.

She had been on the committee for 25 years and was born in the hospital.

Also joining the committee were Heather Gilbert and John Head, and Surgeon Commander Daryll Wylie from RNAS Culdrose who later spoke to members on the subject of aviation medicine.

Dr Wort also reported on another successful year's fundraising by the Friends, despite the economic climate.

"Several items of equipment have been purchased for the hospital including a trolley which cost £3,000. This allows patients to be transported safely and is used in the minor injuries room."

Dr Wort also thanked children from Breage School for their Easter cards, the ladies' team which provided flower arrangements and the receptionists. Committee members had also been involved in tidying up the hospital's sensory garden.

He thanked matron Lynda McHale and her deputy Sister Teresa Finnigan for attending committee meetings and was full of praise for all committee members "for putting up with me".