Edlington parade to celebrate NHS 70th birthday

A VILLAGE will mark the 70th birthday of the NHS with a street parade this weekend.

Edlington celebrated the birth of free healthcare in July 1948 with a march led by the brass band from Yorkshire Main Colliery to the village’s GP surgery, where Dr James O'Donnell — affectionately known as Dr Jimmy — hung a Union Jack from his window and gave the marchers a drink.

On Sunday, the event will be recreated with a parade led by  Sheffield Pipe Band and Mayor of Edlington Frank Arrowsmith (pictured) to the Martinwells Centre, Edlington’s £7 million “super surgery”, which opened nine years ago.

It will be greeted by Dr Ravindra Nayar, an Edlington GP for more than 30 years, who will hold up a flag and hand out celebratory soft drinks while the band plays on.

Villagers are invited to join the walk, which begins at 9.30am from Edlington Hilltop Centre and includes refreshments at the Martinwells Centre at 9.45am.

 

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