Caldecott Park planting celebrates the platinum anniversary of the Friends

Rugby Borough Council came up with the idea to mark the charity's milestone and invited members of the Friends to attend the planting this week at the beds near the park's iconic Echo sculpture.

A range of plants was selected for the Friends' floral display, focusing on blue and white - the colours featured in the charity's branding.

Varieties of flowers and grasses planted in the beds include Magic Fountains Sky Blue delphinium, Blue Spire perovskia, Morning Light miscanthus sinensis and Alba echinacea purpurea. 

The Friends was formed in 1955 when a group of Rugbeians formed the League of Friends to support the Hospital of St Cross.

From small beginnings - the charity's first financial report recorded a balance of just £90 in today's money - the Friends now boasts more than 170 volunteers and has donated equipment and supported projects at St Cross to the tune of more than £4 million.

The charity's volunteers also provide a range of support services at the hospital, from hosting bingo sessions for patients and a 'meet and greet' service for visitors to running the hospital's tea bar and ward trolley service.

Cllr Maggie O'Rourke, Rugby Borough Council portfolio holder for partnerships and wellbeing, has a long history with the Hospital of St Cross, where her father worked as an operating department practitioner and her mother in the hospital's dining room for consultants, before she spent 22 years working in the pharmacy department.

"The Friends have made such a massive difference to St Cross over the past 70 years and, as a council, we're delighted to pay tribute to the charity's work on behalf of the residents of Rugby," Cllr O'Rourke added.

"From supporting patients and staff while raising money to purchase vital medical equipment, the charity's trustees and team of volunteers work tirelessly to support our local hospital and the services it provides."

A Platinum Anniversary Appeal has been launched by the Friends to mark the charity's 70th anniversary, with the first fund-raising target of £70,000 being set to purchase a second ultrasound machine for maternity services at St Cross.

The appeal has raised more than £21,000 so far.

Doug Jones, chair of the Friends of the Hospital of St Cross, said: "2025 is the platinum anniversary of the Friends and the planting in Caldecott Park is an amazing tribute and recognition of the efforts of all those volunteers and supporters, both past and present.

"It is only through the continued and unwavering generosity and support that we receive from the Rugby community that we are able to achieve as much as we do.

"As always, every penny raised supports the work of the charity in our continued efforts to improve the patient experience and to bring new services to the Hospital of St Cross and Rugby."

Cllr Neil Sandison, Rugby Borough Council's Liberal Democrat spokesperson for partnerships and wellbeing, said: "As someone who has previously worked at St Cross and currently a regular user of services at the hospital for health reasons, I really appreciate how the Friends have enhanced service provision at St Cross for Rugby residents."

For more information on the Friends of the Hospital St Cross - and to support the Platinum Anniversary Appeal - visit www.fsx.org.uk