A WEST Somerset hospital was turned into a winter wonderland for a day as staff and volunteers performed a pantomime for current and past patients and their friends and family.

They presented a version of the classic Lewis Carroll story ‘Alice in Wonderland’, which they titled ‘Alice in Meadowland’.

The new title reflected the name of Meadow Ward, in Williton Community Hospital, whose staff members and helpers put on the performance.

Meadow Ward is the hospital’s stroke ward, which has a multi-disciplinary team of specialist therapists, nurses, and healthcare assistants led by Sister Sharon Stone, as well as its own dedicated doctor.

Past patients and members of other teams in the hospital attended the production, which was organised by activities co-ordinator Kim Neill.

A hospital spokesperson said: “Our amazing staff and volunteers put in so much hard work to deliver this brilliant panto, from the set design, parts of the costumes, the script, and the organising.

“The staff and volunteers worked really hard to put together the set, props, costumes, and had lots of rehearsals to get it just right.

Dr Clare Nettleton as Alice, with Mad Hatter June Lewis and White Rabbit Tracey Bland in Williton Hospital's pantomime. PHOTO: Ben Bland Photography.
Dr Clare Nettleton as Alice, with Mad Hatter June Lewis and White Rabbit Tracey Bland in Williton Hospital's pantomime. PHOTO: Ben Bland Photography. ( )

“It was a roaring success, attended by current patients and also past patients and members of other teams who had come just for the show.”

The cast was: Alice, Dr Clare Nettleton; Queen of Hearts, Senior Sister Sharon Stone; White Rabbit, adult social care worker Tracey Bland; Mad Hatter, adult social care worker June Lewis; March Hare, administrator Louise Mullett; Door Mouse, housekeeper Margaret Attwell; Ugly Sisters (Manky and Skanky), volunteers Chris Bye and Yvonne Marshall; Caterpillar, healthcare assistant Linda Hardie; Cheshire Cat, hotel services assistant Sue Andrews; Queens Guard, Abu Jafor; Nurse Ratchet, Esther Ridewood; Prince Charming, Kevin Bye; Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee, Sheila Pont and Anwen Owen; Playing herself, Barbara Heywood; Playing himself, Scooby the dog; Prompt, volunteer Marilyn Hill; Narrator, Kim Neill; On the piano, Nigel Neill.

Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee, aka Sheila Pont and Anwen Owen, in Williton Hospital's pantomime 'Alice in Meadowland'. PHOTO: Ben Bland Photography.
Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee, aka Sheila Pont and Anwen Owen, in Williton Hospital's pantomime 'Alice in Meadowland'. PHOTO: Ben Bland Photography. ( )

A special thanks was paid by the hospital to: Roadwater Players, for many of the costumes and props; R H Fibreboard Containers Ltd, for cardboard donations; Helen McDermaid, sewing bee for alterations to costumes; Wombledon, costume hire; Angie Winder, table cakes for the show; Mr and Mrs Morgan, from Mike Morgan Electrical Services, sponsoring the cakes for after the show.

Meadow has between 16 and 20 inpatient beds as well as an ambulatory care unit enabling local treatment of day case patients who would otherwise need to travel to Taunton.

It offers day patients several services, including pleurex chest drain care, blood transfusion, catheter insertion, compression bandaging, PICC line and chemotherapy pump care.

Williton Hospital's pantomime Ugly Sisters, played by Chris Bye and Yvonne Marshall. PHOTO: Ben Bland Photography.
Williton Hospital's pantomime Ugly Sisters, played by Chris Bye and Yvonne Marshall. PHOTO: Ben Bland Photography. ( )

The spokesperson said: “Meadow is a uniquely friendly and collaborative place in which to work, with many opportunities for in-house professional development and updating and maintaining a broad skill set.

“We pride ourselves on our positivity and ‘can do’ attitude and support and encourage all our staff to reach their full potential.”

Anybody interested in becoming a volunteer should call 01984 635600 (select option three) and their details will be passed to lead volunteer Chris Bye.