Fox Inn licensee's act of kindness provides televisions for hospital ward
The generosity of an Oadby licensee has helped lift spirits at Leicester Hospital after he arranged for six televisions to be installed at one of its wards.
Phillip Wharton, 61, who runs the Fox Inn in Oadby has paid £1,000 of his own money to buy five of the televisions and organised a raffle which provided the sixth one for Leicester Hospital’s orthopaedic ward. He made his decision to donate the televisions after spending a large part of the last three years in and out of the ward being treated for various knee problems.
During his treatment Phillip was faced with the difficulties of coping with boredom while convalescing, so decided the addition of televisions to the ward might help him and his fellow patients. It’s certainly seemed to have provided a tonic as the ward is now fitted with six 24 inch television sets much to the joy of the patients there.
Philip, who has run the Fox Inn for the last six years with wife Bridget, said: “I have been in and out of the ward these past three years and sometimes its difficult to cope with the boredom when you are recovering.
“So I decided to donate the TVs to help pass the time for fellow patients and as a thank you to the hospital and staff for the great way in which they have cared and looked after me. The televisions certainly seemed to have gone down well with the patients as I am told people don’t want to leave the ward now.”
The raffle at the pub was organised by the Whartons and regulars at the pub, who donated 15 prizes for the draw. The raffle was drawn on a Saturday night and the top prize of a 24 inch television was donated to the hospital ward by the winner.
Phillip added: “We raised £480 from the raffle which has helped pay for the installation costs for the televisions. I have to thank all the regulars at the pub for their generosity in donating the various raffle prizes and their efforts in helping us to raise the money during the raffle night.”
The Fox Inn’s next event at the pub is the Easter pub quiz. This will take place over the Easter weekend and will feature cash prizes for the winners.
