If you have occasion to visit South Pembrokeshire Hospital in Pembroke Dock, you will notice the friendly, caring atmosphere.

The Cleddau Day Unit will be bustling with people occupied with the many activities which are provided for the recuperation of its patients. Anything from crafts to a sing-along.

In the main Sunderland Ward, the staff make sure that everyone is as comfortable and well looked after as possible. Many patients are there to be assessed and rehabilitated wherever possible.

Making the patients stay more comfortable and pleasant is the reason 'The Friends of South Pembrokeshire Hospital' was formed nine years ago. Their main aim is fundraising to buy important items not covered by hospital funding in these harsh economic times. Items like special mattresses, new televisions, wheelchairs, the superb greenhouse, the list is endless.

In order to raise these much-needed funds, The Friends hold a coffee morning and table-top sale every second Tuesday in the month in Pembroke Town Hall. This has gone from strength to strength, with a wide variety of stalls, including their renowned home-made cake stall.

However, during the past year, The Friends have lost some much valued members for a number of reasons, and are anxiously looking for more members to help with their various activities. It is not time consuming, unless you want it to be, and people of any age and gender can join on a purely voluntary basis.

A meeting is held monthly in the evening where ideas are put forward and discussed, the coffee mornings are once a month and more people are needed to help in the kitchen, making teas, serving and clearing tables. Also needed are people to help push trolleys round the day centre and ward each Wednesday afternoon and on a rota of members available. On the trolleys are sweets, biscuits, squash and toiletries to sell to the patients. Then once a year, The Friends hold a big fundraising event. Last year, a very successful Old Tyme Music Hall was put on in Pater Hall.

If you feel you can contribute in any way, be it big or small, please contact Sue on 01646 682596 or Lynne on 01646 684513 and leave a message if necessary. Or call in to the next coffee morning and table-top in Pembroke Town Hall on Tuesday, April 8, and see what they do and how you can help them.