Members of the public, including current and former staff attended the South Hams Hospital open day last Thursday to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the NHS.

People shared stories over tea and refreshments, while taking in the timeline of pictures, postcards, guestbooks dating back to 1908 and planning documents decorating every wall and table top.

Former nurses, some of whom had worked at the hospital for more than 30 years, joked about the “good old days” and reminisced about work parties and former colleagues.

Les Mashford, who the other nurses deemed ‘a force of nature’ worked as a health care assistant at the hospital for 38 years after she started in 1976, has vivid memories of cleaning the floor of the theatre room, and remembers seeing the undertaker carry out a bucket of tonsils once.

She and her co-worker, Susan Whiteway laughed as they recalled working together decades ago, and how they and a few of the other health care assistants dressed up as angels on Christmas morning, and “many of the patients woke up thinking they were in heaven!”

Also with the ladies was former health care assistant Heather Perrett, who worked at the hospital for 32 years, Ann Brown, who started nursing at the hospital in 1963 and was there for 27 years, and Rosemary Alger nee Steer, who was there for 16 years.

Susan recalled first visiting the hospital when she was five to have her tonsils removed, and claimed that Ann was the reason she wanted to go into nursing.

The ladies said they still meet up regularly to catch up.

Diana Green, matron at the hospital, said: “It was lovely to be able to mark this special anniversary by opening our doors and welcoming people in to celebrate with us.

“We’re really proud of the services we provide here, and it was clear from all the wonderful feedback we had from the guests that the community really values what we do.

“I’m delighted that so many former staff members were able to come along and share their stories and memories, highlighting how our hospital has changed over the years. What struck me is that they - like my colleagues today - are immensely proud to have played a part in our NHS over the years.

“I’m also pleased that members of our League of Friends were able to join us as they play such an important role in supporting our hospital.”

The hospital, run by Livewell Southwest, opened in April 1929 in the same location it is today. Back then it was called South Hams Cottage Hospital, had 25 beds, and was at the edge of the railway.

Hospital staff and the team at Kingsbridge Cookworthy Museum kindly raided their archives to provide the collection of photographs and other mementos for the afternoon.