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WRVS Volunteers

Grace Ferguson and Colina Killop are both volunteers with the WRVS - formerly the Women's Royal Volunteer Service.

The organisation, formed during the Second World War to help civilians, has a long history of working with the NHS in Lanarkshire.

In addition to running shops and tea rooms to serve staff, patients and visitors at Monklands, Wishaw and Hairmyres Hospitals, the WRVS volunteers raise funds to help buy equipment for the NHS.

On May 21 Grace and Colina were part of the WRVS's Airdrie group who handed over an amazing £50,000 to Monkland's Hospital for new equipment to help improve patient care.

And they are proud to have been able to support their local hospital.

Grace, who is pictured on the left presenting Adrian Dalby, general manager of surgical at Monklands Hospital with the cheque, has worked with the WRVS for 35 years.

The 87-year-old, from Bellshill, said: "The national health service in Britain is better than those in other countries.

"In all my time I've never had a complaint to make about the NHS.

"I can't remember much about the health service in 1948, that's too long ago for me, but I'm happy with the service.

"I've been working with the WRVS now for 35 years after I was signed up by a woman at my church. 

"I really enjoy working at the tea room in Monklands. We don’t just serve customers.

“Patients sometimes come in who can’t carry their trays so we would help with things like that. They might also just want someone to talk to so the WRVS workers can do that as well.

“It’s great to raise money for the NHS although I was surprised we raised so much.

“It doesn’t matter how much money the government give the NHS, it’s never going to be enough, so be able to help them buy equipment they might otherwise have to do without is wonderful.”