Former members of the social club at Feltham Young Offender’s Prison can take a bow – knowing that three charities have benefited from their generosity since the closure of the club.

The Shooting Star Hospice appeal for the children’s hospice at Hampton and the Operation Happy Child appeal for terminally ill children, are each receiving £8,400.

At Ashford Hospital £8,400 was presented to Consultant Surgeon Ms Sunita Shrotria on Monday (04-02-08) by Mrs Dee Diaper, wife of retired prison officer Colin Diaper, for use in the Breast Care Unit.  Pictured here (left to right) are:  Ms Shrotria’spersonal assistant, Maggie Smythe, Ms Sunita Shrotria, Mrs Dee Diaper and outpatient Sister Ann Roffey.

Said Ms Shrotria: “This is a great donation, which is very much appreciated.  We use such donations in many ways: to improve the service; for putting nurses on courses; for extra equipment and for research. “

The unit also hopes to purchase digital mammography equipment which provides direct-to-digital images. By completely eliminating light diffusion the sharpness and clarity of the image is preserved, and its higher transmission rate results in higher contrast images.  The Breast Unit hopes to raise £120,000 towards the £250,000 equipment.

The prison officer’s social club was at Field View, near the Clumps, Feltham.  It had nearly 400 members but closed following a fire.  Fixtures and fittings were sold at a Boot Sale and the proceeds added to the club funds which were later divided between the three good causes.

Said retired prison officer Colin Diaper, of Ashford: “The reason why the club members agreed that the Ashford Breast Care Unit should be one of the beneficiaries was that it is a local good cause that many neighbours, wives, mothers or sisters have all needed to use at some time.”

Colin, a prison officer for 26 years, spent 14 years at Ashford Remand Centre before it was closed and he was then transferred to Feltham Young Offenders Institute before retiring. Colin and his wife, Dee, have previously involved in fundraising for the unit before as Dee has been a patient of Ms Shrotria.

Footnote:  Many patients and fundraisers will have met or spoken to Ms Shrotria’s secretary, Maggie Smythe, who retires this month (February) after 11 years with Ms Shrotria.  She has been a driving force behind the unit’s fundraising, often going out to receive donations and speak about the work of the unit.

Said Maggie: “There are many local people whose support and encouragement have made my working life enjoyable and worthwhile.  And also at times it has been very humbling when addressing their concerns and anxieties when fate has dealt them an unfortunate hand.  They have truly enlightened my eyes over the years, and I would like to thank them all.

My favourite hospital activity was attending gatherings with colleagues and feeling so proud as I watched them collect prizes for achievements at different functions. And I have always been pleased to see them receive fond recognition from the local community. I have enjoyed my time with friends and colleagues throughout the hospital, and I thank them for the time, effort and patience given to me.

“The most rewarding experience of working in the NHS is when a patient’s results exceed their expectations, surgically and medically. “