Centenary celebration for Insch Hospital
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A large turnout of locals took to the streets of Insch on Sunday in a celebration of Insch War Memorial Hospital's 100th anniversary.
Organised by Friends of Insch Hospital and Community SCIO there was the recreation of the procession, lead by Huntly Pipe Band to a formal ceremony at the site, where several speakers addressed the crowd, as they would have done at its original opening.
They included Rev Kay Gauld, MP Richard Thomson, councillors Sam Payne and Moray Grant.
Friend's chairman Graham Matthews said: "Work on the hospital project began in 1919 and by 1922 they had raised around £7500, worth around £240,000 in todays money.
"The original hospital was extended some 10 years later and has had further additions.
"The hospital was closed to admission in May 2020 at the start of the pandemic and is yet to see admissions restarted.
"Nationally there is a bed crisis with a shortage of community beds and inside here is nine or 10 beds and they are sitting doing nothing.
"Today is not a day for complaining however and to mark the 100 years, the Friends are launching our
celebration proposal for a new wing of community beds.
"Plans are on show which show what it would look like.
"We have had it costed and as in 1919 when the community said they could do this, so can we.
"We will need a bit of fundraising for what will be a bit more than £240,000 but from previous fundraising it's not as much as you might think.
"It is doable and is deliverable within 10 months."
Rev Kay Gauld also spoke to the assembly and recounted the tales and memories of those whose name it was created in.
She said: "For 100 years the hospital has been a beacon of hope and healing and also of loving care to the terminally ill.
"It is constructed of living bricks and within it laughter and hope and special and intimate last moments.
"They have seen pain and suffering, the professional care and tears of those and also the joy of those leaving to return to their loved ones."
"Our hospital is at the heart of our parishes and cannot be allowed to become an addition to the terminal list.
"We must start a new chapter and work together to have our dreams come true to see it stand to tell stories for another 100 years and more."
The event also saw the launch of a newly created celebratory publication which looks at the history of the hospital and in the afternoon a parade of vintage vehicles made its way around the village.
Councillor Moray Grant said following the event: "The turnout was testament to the support the campaign to reopen the hospital enjoys in Insch and district, and thankfully a sunny day allowed people to enjoy the vintage rides as well as the opportunity to see the inside of the hospital, which has now been closed for over two years.
"The Friends of Insch Hospital have worked tirelessly in support of the hospital for over three decades now, and especially over these past two years to facilitate its reopening.
"I can't recall another local campaign so prominent in its efforts, as evidenced by Save Insch Hospital banners, posters and hearts across the district.
"As beds continue to be under pressure in Aberdeenshire, the return of in-patient beds to Insch will not only benefit the immediate community, but also provide a valuable resource across the whole shire."
