CHRISTMAS PRESENTS were brought to the children’s ward at Peterborough City Hospital on Tuesday 16th December by No 3 Mobile Catering Squadron and Air Traffic Control at RAF Wittering. RAF Chefs and Air Traffic Controllers delivered a mountain of presents to Peterborough City Hospital’s Amazon Ward with RAF Chef Corporal Steve Hobson dressed in the traditional Father Christmas costume. The Royal Air Force’s premier catering unit held a series of charity events through the year to fund the presents, including a 10 km mud-run, cake sales, collections and even a fund raising event on deployment in the middle-east. Corporal Gary Hickie and his colleagues in Air Traffic Control had also been very busy; collecting by the main gate, at the Station café, and persuading Morrison’s in Stamford to donate some festive Cadbury’s selection boxes. For Corporal Hobson, the choice of Peterborough City Hospital was clear; “Some of our children have been treated at PCH and some of our kids were born there. God forbid anything should happen to our children, but it’s the place you’d go.” Curious stares greeted the team’s arrival, but these soon changed to beaming smiles as the children realised that presents could be delivered by people in smart RAF uniforms as well as a chap in a white beard and red costume. Three-year old Harry from Spalding could barely contain his happiness as he opened a pirate costume, complete with eye patch and toy hook. Harry’s mum Claire was at least as pleased as her son and said; “It’s brilliant, they’ve been very kind and very generous. It makes such a big difference; they’ve made a poorly boy really happy.” In addition to the toys, Sergeant Booth and her mum, Miriam Briggs, knitted 50 bonnets for the premature and poorly babies who will spend their very first Christmas in the special care baby unit. RAF Wittering Station Commander, Group Captain Damian Alexander said; “It’s tough enough for a child to be in hospital at any time of year, and probably ten times worse at Christmas. Anything we can do to brighten a child’s day is well worth the effort. The teams from 3 Mobile Catering Squadron and Air Traffic Control have done brilliantly, and brought some genuine happiness to Peterborough City Hospital.”
Posted on: Wed, 17 Dec 2014 16:38:48 +0000
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