LOCAL TV gardening celebrity Alan Titchmarsh will be in Alton next Saturday (July 5) to launch the first of the local communityÕs permanent tributes to the townÕs recently demolished Lord Mayor Treloar Hospital.
He will be unveiling a plaque on the site of the former hospital at The Octagon, adjacent to Alton Community Hospital.
The commemorative plaque is just one of a number of tributes planned by the Alton Society and The Treloar/Gauvain Memorial Fund Committee, to mark five generations of achievement by the staff, patients and friends of Lord Mayor Treloar Hospital, sold off for housing despite huge opposition by patients and orthopaedic surgeons across Hampshire and beyond.
On Saturday, Mr Titchmarsh will be announcing the following initiatives, decided by local people in consultation with former nursing and clinical staff.
l An orthopaedic travelling scholarship to support surgeon volunteers teaching orthopaedic skills in the Third World. This is being launched immediately as a national campaign led by The Alton Society in association with World Orthopaedic Concern.
l A major annual book prize to an outstanding trainee orthopaedic nurse in this region - to be launched following a regional appeal led by The Alton Society.
l A Book of Commemoration to be available in perpetuity for the signatures and comments of all who knew Treloar Hospital
l A public meeting place in Alton, to be renamed in honour of Sir William Treloar, which will house an original portrait.
l Educational material - in the form of an educational pack to be made available to Hampshire schools for use as part of local history studies.
According to committee chairman Geoff Nicholas: ÒThe loss of Treloar Hospital was painful for all who worked there, or who attended as patients, and traumatic for the local community.
ÒAlan Titchmarsh saw this at first hand as a local resident, and kindly allowed his famous TV garden to be used to raise funds for the campaign to save the hospital,Ó said Mr Nicholas.
ÒWe are delighted he has agreed to launch our commemorative programme.Ó
Alan Titchmarsh will be supported on Saturday by a host of dignitaries, including Alton Town Mayor Pam Jones., together with former Treloar Hospital surgeons, nursing and support staff.
An open invitation has gone out to members of the public who would like to attend the ceremony which will start at 10-45 am in the former hospital grounds at Chawton Park Road.