THE glorious sunshine cast a healthy glow on on Christchurch hospital when huge crowds enjoyed the warmth at the League of Friends annual fete.

More than £4,500 was raised on August 7, 2000, to help provide improved facilities for patients and staff at the hospital in Fairmile Road.

An estimated 2,000 people thronged the hospital lawns and long queues had formed even before the fete was officially opened by Mayor of Christchurch and League of Friends' president Cllr Eric Spreadbury.

Friends' volunteers and hospital staff joined forces to man a variety of stalls and games while orthopaedic rehab ward sister Jill Gwilliam handles more than 200 entries for her dog show.

Christchurch MP Chris Chope who volunteered to draw the raffle.