70th anniversary gala goes swimmingly for NHS staff

A charity swim gala was held at a Wrexham leisure centre last weekend to celebrate 70 years of the NHS.

Doctors, nurses and other NHS staff from across the region took on swimmers from Wrexham swimming club and Garston swimming club in Liverpool in a series of relays including a raft race, a baton relay and a t-shirt relay which was done in hospital scrubs.

Along with celebrating 70 years of the NHS, the event also raised money for North Wales NHS charity, Awyr Las/Blue Sky.

It was one of a series of events to have taken place to celebrate the landmark birthday, including a unique park run at Erddig Hall last month.

Chief Executive of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board Gary Doherty said, “It was fantastic to celebrate 70 years of the NHS by taking part in this gala with our great team of staff.

“We gave it our all but we were beaten soundly in most races by the talented young swimmers from Wrexham and Liverpool. They were brilliant!”

Wrexham Maelor Hospital Director Maureen Wain organised the event and she is involved with Garston Swimming Club in her spare time.

She said, “I was impressed by the standard of our Betsi staff swimmers, we had some really good quality swimmers who managed to give the other clubs a good race!

“It has been a pleasure to work on the gala with our staff and promote the good work that the NHS does locally and across the UK.”