A group of volunteers that launched a fundraising crusade to transform a disused hospital into a care home for the elderly in Shropshire has disbanded, it emerged today.

Dwindling numbers and the age of the few remaining members were behind the decision to dissolve the Friends of the Lady Forester Centre in Broseley, patron Catherine Lady Forester revealed today.

The group started their fundraising bid after the Lady Forester Hospital was closed in 1989 as part of a national policy to close smaller hospitals.

After six years of campaigning and fundraising led by the Forester family and the Friends group, the Lady Forester Centre was opened as a day centre in 1995 offering care for the elderly either on a drop-in or residential basis. The Friends group ploughed on with its fundraising and pulled in £65,000 in total from when the hospital closed up to the present day.

Lady Forester said the decision to disband the group was made with great reluctance at the recent annual general meeting.

“It is as a consequence of the dwindling numbers and the advancing years of the small band of dedicated volunteers,” she said.

“As their past president I would like to pay tribute to the group’s perseverance, their stamina and their indefatigable fundraising and to acknowledge their valuable time so generously given.

“Thanks to their unflagging efforts the centre is equipped and furnished to the highest standards and continues to serve the community for whom it was originally built.

“I am sure the trustees of the Lady Forester Centre and the people of Broseley would like to join me in thanking the Friends for their many years of selfless dedication.”

The Lady Forester Hospital was built in 1905 by the Forester family to cater for the total health and medical needs of the people of Broseley and surrounding areas.

It received a good report from the Department of Health’s Quality Care Commission report into the facilities at the home, which include large dining and lounge areas for patients using the day unit facilities.