Fundraisers and Celebrations - Summer 2018

Wednesday 1st August 2018

LAfFalAnG Comedy Fundraiser

The LAfFalAnG Gang handing over a big cheque to the Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign

As most of you will know the fabulous 'Laffalang Gang' show on June 15th and 16th at the Westovian Theatre was a tremendous success. A very very big thank you to the organisers; Ed, Gareth, Kier and of course Stephen Tompkinson and the whole gang. Thank you also to the many performers who came there for free to raise money for the campaign to save our hospital and NHS. Thank you to all of the people who bought tickets and attended.

The event raised £6,533 for our campaign. This wonderful contribution means that SSTHC has easily reached its current funding target of £15,000. We have used the funding as part of a legal challenge to save the consultant-led 24/7 children's A&E, consultant-led maternity services and stroke services at South Tyneside District Hospital.

At the presentation event on the 1st of August, Roger Nettlechip (Chair SSTHC), Gemma Taylor (Coord SSTHC), about 20 activists from the campaign including Emma Lewell-Buck MP (South Shields) and Marion Langley (Branch Secretary of Unison at the hospital) received a big cheque for the campaign from Gareth Hunter and four of the Laffalang actors. Roger gave a very big thank you on behalf of our campaign to Ed Waugh (the writer and organiser), Gareth Hunter (the director) and all of the cast, crew and guests including actor Stephen Tompkinson for supporting the campaign in its fight to safeguard the future of NHS services in South Tyneside.

This is a great boost to the people of South Tyneside to continue to build the campaign to save all the other vital acute services that are now under threat at South Tyneside District Hospital in phase-2 of the changes that the local health service leaders are planning.
Thursday 5th July 2018

NHS 70th Anniversary Dinner

The LAfFalAnG Gang received a certificate from the campaign as a token of our sincere thanks

The campaign would like to thank Phil and Gill very much for a wonderful 70th NHS anniversary dinner. We all thoroughly enjoyed it. Also a big thank you to Marion for getting people in the mood to share their life stories in relation to the NHS. Phil expressed his gratitude to all who came and made the evening a success. The celebration dinner itself raised in excess of £600 on the night for our campaign.

At one point during the evening the campaign presented the Laffalang cast and crew with a certificate signifying our heartfelt appreciation for their fund-raising efforts and selfless support for our health services. Joan Lewis handed over the framed certificate. Joan was born before the NHS was created, and was very touched to be able to present the certificate.

On the same day representatives from the campaign were also invited to South Shields town hall to celebrate the NHS' 70th birthday, and also to listen to a motion that gives mention to our campaign. The highlight was the passionate speeches from some councillors. Councillor Stephen Dean gave a brilliant heartfelt speech regarding his own experiences of the NHS, and this was also his maiden speech as a councillor.
Saturday 14th July 2018

134th Durham Miners' Gala

SSTHC in the Gala Parade
The Durham Miners' Gala is a wonderful celebration and rallying of the working class and people's movement, reflecting its values and sentiments to build a new society including where the wrecking of the NHS is halted and health care is truly a right for all. So it was a very uplifting day to inspire our fight for the future. SSTHC marched along with South Tyneside Unison who have been and continue to be central to our campaign, as well as Unison Region who have had Gemma Taylor as co-ordinator with us throughout the whole campaign. There were members of UNITE, PCS, GMB and other unions with us, and a whole group from South Tyneside Momentum who carried our banner. So thanks to all for making this such a memorable day for the campaign.

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