A FAMILIAR face will be sadly missed from the corridor of Warrington Hospital's Appleton wing.

After 13 years of continued and devoted service to the League of Friends, Patrick McIntyre has finally hung up his boots.

The 87-year-old has worked four days a week since September 2005 at his collection trolley outside the ECG department selling tickets for the League of Friends weekly draw.

This weekly lottery raises money for a variety of good causes within the hospital and Patrick’s commitment and efforts over the years has seen him help to raise thousands of pounds for the charity.

They have also provided wheelchairs for the Daresbury ward, sofas for the family and bereavement room, hearing screening equipment for babies and much more.

As well as being proactive in the weekly lottery, Patrick spent time visiting patients in different wards of the hospital as part of the League of Friends’ support for patients in need.

Patrick, who was born in Liverpool and moved to Great Sankey in 1964, was employed as a telecommunications engineer for 30 years, serving most of his time at Warrington Telephone Exchange, before his retirement in 1992.

Prior to that, Patrick worked on the railway in Liverpool and served as a Royal Naval Signalman for seven years.

His youngest son Stephen said: "When my mum died 13 years ago, I thought that dad might just give up as he and mum had been together for 51 years. He was devastated when she passed away as one might imagine.

"However, instead, dad became involved in activities such as bingo, gardening and travelling. The one thing that he has really loved and been passionate about though has been his service in the hospital to the League of Friends.

"He's done an excellent job and was really suited to this type of voluntary work, due to the fact that he is very kind-hearted and enjoys helping other people.

"Although dad is a little disappointed to be giving up his role, he should be immensely proud of the sterling service he has given to the League of Friends over the years and all the people that he has helped.

"Everybody who knows him showed astonishment as well as admiration that a person of his age could still be carrying out voluntary work on a regular basis, 26 years into retirement. He truly has done a very valuable and amazing job and deserves great recognition for his efforts."