A "MAGNIFICENT" group that has raised more than £85,000 for Otley's hospitals has wound up after 64 years.

Wharfedale Hospital has described the disbanding of Otley Ladies Hospital Group, which was formed in 1950, as the end of an era.

Founded to support the then fledgling NHS, the Ladies have held all kinds of fundraising events over the years to pay for additional care and equipment at first Wharfedale General Hospital and then its replacement.

They have now decided, due to the changing nature of local health services, to call it a day.

To celebrate the group's proud history a new plaque, commissioned by Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, was recently unveiled at Wharfedale Hospital followed by tea and presentations to members.

Head of Nursing, Zoe Kirk, said: "It is the end of an era for us here at Wharfedale.

"The Ladies have played such an instrumental role in helping staff to provide care by ensuring that we have extra comforts for patients on our wards.

"We are all going to miss their support, and would like to pass on our sincere thanks for the contribution they have made to the hospital and the wider local community over the past 64 years."

The Ladies' work was funded by whist drives, garden parties, bake sales, dances, coffee mornings, fashion shows and more.

The proceeds have let it purchase everything from salt and pepper pots and blankets to hymn books, furniture, medical equipment, books and toys, televisions, tea and coffee machines, Christmas gifts and trees, and artwork.

In its first decades the group also helped refurbish whole wards and waiting rooms and, with the support of the community, even had an overnight room for patients' relatives built and equipped.

Chairman Margaret Mudd said: "It has been a privilege to have been part of such a wonderful organisation.

"It makes me immensely proud to look back on all of the good works that the Otley Ladies have done.

“It is ever so sad that we must wind up our operations, however, with improvements in the health system and services being moved around Leeds, our support no longer is needed in the way that it once was.

“We would like to thank the staff at Wharfedale, both past and present, for all of their wonderful support.

"We’d especially like to thank Zoe for her efforts in arranging to have the plaque installed to mark the contribution of the group."