TEIGNMOUTH Community Hospital’s 68th anniversary was marked by the singing of Happy Birthday by an enthusiastic crowd of people.

They are the people who are keeping the beacon of hope alive for the retention of the much loved and still extremely busy place.

As a follow up Viv Wilson led the gathering into ‘Side by Side’ – a song that tells of sticking together through thick and thin.

There is a video of this by Liz Lockyear on the Hands off Teignmouth Hospital Facebook page Cllrs Sylvia Russell and Alistair Dewhurst attended to show their support and Cllr Chris Clarance read a copy of a lengthy letter he has sent to the new Health Minister.

Geralyn Arthurs, lead for Hands off Teignmouth Hospital, drew the event together to show solidarity in the desire to keep the hospital going since the past two years have confirmed that it is a huge support to Torbay Hospital.

The ultimate goal is to bed a ward with beds reinstated even if the original 34 beds is not a reality now.

Meanwhile the Hospital League of Friends with help from Tom Clark has replanted all the window boxes at the entrance to show that it is still open – even if not All Hours!

Geralyn Arthurs said: ‘We held the celebration to say ‘Thank you’ for the excellent medical and nursing care that so many of us have received over the years.

‘Hopefully our new Secretary of State will deliver on her pledge and we will be able to look forward to the NHS once again reinstating our community hospitals which are so vital in supporting the district general hospitals to function smoothly.’