News and Views from Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust

 
How to live to 102!

Something to celebrate … 102 year old Harriet Weston is presented with a birthday cake by staff on Newtimber Ward at the Princess Royal Hospital.

She celebrated her 102nd birthday on the rehabilitation ward on 30 June. After demonstrating her agility using a walking frame, she still had plenty of breath to blow out the candles on a celebratory cake presented to her by the staff.

Born in Essex, Harriet was the eldest in a family of nine. Two of her sisters, Rose and Lily, celebrated her birthday with her at the weekend.

Like many of her generation, she went into service at the age of 14, until her marriage to George. During the war she worked tirelessly for the Red Cross and the WRVS. After losing her son Harold in 1944, she and George raised a daughter Sally.

Harriet and George celebrated their Golden Wedding in 1975. In 1992, she moved to Sussex to be near Sally, son-in-law Derek and grandchildren Nicola and Andrew.

When we asked Harriet the secret of living to such a long and healthy age she did not hesitate. "Jolly hard work!" she said.

Sadly he died about eighteen months ago. Before becoming unwell, however, he donated a painting to the cardiac department.

He also expressed a wish to have another sale of his paintings to raise funds for Brighton Heart Support Trust and Hyman Fine House, formerly known as the Brighton & Hove Jewish Home, which caters for 55 elderly and infirm residents..

Last month his widow Ida presented the painting to consultant cardiologist Dr Steve Holmberg. This has been framed and now hangs in the cardiac outpatient department.

This month Steve will officially open a viewing of nearly a hundred paintings at 144 New Church Road, Hove.

He said: "Gerald Zebrak’s work is an expression of his feelings, often very personal and meaningful to him. "He was gifted with a rare talent which shows in the variety of work to be seen."

Viewing takes between 12.30 and 5 p.m. on Tuesday 22 July.

Mrs Ida Zebrak presents a painting by her late husband Gerald to consultant cardiologist Dr Steve Holmberg for the cardiac out patient department at the Sussex County hospital.

Gary Inkpen of Hove wanted to raise money for the Royal Alexandra children’s hospital. This was in recognition of the treatment his now sixteen-year-old son Peter had received there since being diagnosed with a tumour as a six-month old baby.

He also wanted to beat his time of 3 hours 46 minutes achieved in his previous attempt back in 1989.

So many people took part this year, however, that he found it difficult to get through the crowd. He missed his target by just four minutes.

But he didn’t fail to raise money for the hospital’s Jean Cree Unit and was able to hand over a cheque for £424 last month.

Marathon man … Gary Inkpen hands his cheque to Dr Cathy Appleyard in the Jean Cree Unit at the children’s hospital.

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But when one of her patients said he was disappointed because his illness meant he wouldn’t be able to take part this year, she knew she couldn’t let him down and decided to go ahead herself.

Rachel was one of 19 nurses, doctors and friends in a group from the hospital organised by Tim Donkin who took part in the ride to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation.

Tim Donkin (A&E), Rachel Harrison (Howard One) and Damon Barnett (MASU), the first three County Hospital riders to arrive at Sussex House after completing the London to Brighton bike ride.