Nora's 40 years of as a hospital volunteer

Eighty one-year-old Nora Long, who has been a hospital volunteer for 40 years, is to receive an award for her exceptionally long service on Friday 9 December at a party organised as a “thank-you” for volunteers at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

Nora helps out one day a week in the Day Procedure Unit and is described by her colleagues as “a national treasure”. She is one of 22 volunteers invited to receive long service awards and will be presented with her certificate by the High Sheriff of Norforlk, Georgina Holloway. However, she is the first to complete 40 years as a volunteer.

She began volunteering when her two children started school: “I offer the patients a cup of tea and run errands for the staff,” she says. “I like to be helpful – if I was being paid, I’m sure I wouldn’t enjoy the work as much as I do.”

Helen Maw, nurse manager for the hospital's Day Procedure Unit at NNUH, commented: “We value all our volunteers as they do such a great job for us but Nora's contribution is truly exceptional. She has to catch two buses to get to the hospital and for at least 35 years she worked two days a week at the hospital. She only reduced her hours because her husband was not well.”

The volunteers will be treated to a special Christmas buffet prepared by Serco.