Our oldest volunteer Derek celebrates his 90th birthday!

Derek was surprised with birthday wishes and cake to celebrate his 90th birthday

Volunteer Derek Warren, celebrated his 90th birthday this week with fellow volunteers at Northampton General Hospital.

Arriving for his usual volunteering shift on Monday 8 June, Derek was greeted with a homemade cake and a rousing chorus of Happy Birthday.

Derek, a former BT maintenance supervisor who retired in 1994, began volunteering at NGH in 2015 at the age of 79.

He said: “When my wife, Jean Dorothy, died, I needed a hobby and thought volunteering would be a nice thing to do. I really enjoy it because I meet lots of people and they’re good company.”

Born three years before the outbreak of the Second World War and 12 years before the NHS was created, Derek volunteers two afternoons a week at the hospital’s South Entrance, welcoming visitors and patients and helping them find their way around.

Emma Wimpress, Head of Volunteer Services, said: “We would like to wish Derek a very happy 90th birthday and thank him for his outstanding service and friendship over the years.

“Volunteers like Derek are at the heart of our hospitals. He has played such a valuable part in the remarkable work of our volunteers over the past 12 months. Together, they have given more hours than ever before, and we can’t thank them enough for the difference they make every day.”