Celebrating the 200th birthday of the Swedish opera star who left a lasting legacy to Norfolk

Hospital staff and supporters are today (6 October) celebrating the 200th birthday of the opera star whose generosity founded the East of England’s first children’s hospital.
Jenny Lind – the Swedish nightingale – was one of the most famous singers of the 19th century who left a lasting legacy to the people of Norfolk when she performed two charity concerts in Norwich in 1849.
A new video celebrating the 200th birth of Jenny Lind, her life and the work of the children’s hospital can be viewed here

An Infirmary for sick children on Pottergate, admitted its first inpatients on 3 April 1854, thanks to the generosity and goodwill of Jenny Lind who raised £1,253 from two charity concerts in Norwich. One hundred and sixty six years later the Jenny Lind Children’s Hospital has treated over four million children and young adults from across East Anglia and beyond.
As part of the celebrations, the annual Jenny Lind Lecture will take place on 8 October and will be delivered by historian Bruce Lindsay on Zoom, which is entitled The Rise of the Children’s Hospital: ambition, celebrity and compassion.
The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital Nurses League will also host ‘A tale of two Nightingales’ from 8 October as part of the Betty Lee Lecture www.norfolkandnorwichuniversityhospitalnursesleague.co.uk
Mr Richard England, Consultant Paediatric Surgeon, said: “Jenny Lind’s life story, is an incredibly moving rags to riches, fairy tale. She was such an inspirational person and we are so proud to celebrate her legacy this week.”
Although we are celebrating the birth of Jenny Lind, the fundraising she started all those years ago continues to this day, with many people choosing to support their local children’s hospital. Money raised for the hospital charity allows us to do more for our young patients and their families, from purchasing new innovative equipment to enhancing the environment. People can support the Jenny Lind Children’s Hospital by contacting the charity at www.nnuhcharity.org.uk or https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/jennylindchildrenshospital’