On Christmas Eve we delivered wrapped presents to every patient unfortunate enough to be in Southampton General Hospital over Christmas. Volunteers come in at teatime and go to every ward and personally hand the patient a present.
Paients in the Geriatric Wards, 1-5 on G level, have presents left under the Christmas Tree in each ward for them to receive them when they are awake.
In the Princess Anne Hospital a doctor played Father Christmas on Christmas morning in place of Jack Edwards, who sadly died last April and had acted as Father Christmas for the League for over 10 years. We give baby presents to all babies and wrapped presents for all other patients.
This is a tradition that dates back into the archives of the League of Friends and is very much appreciated by all the patients, some of whom have no or very few visitors to their bedsides.
The children in the General Hospital are the recipients of very many presents from various charities over the city and of course Southampton Football Club First Team and Manager, George Burley, visit with their sleigh full of presents for them. A very exciting afternoon for the sick children and an exciting spectacle for many other visitors to the hospital.

Happy New Year to everyone. Sallyanne