Insch Hospital in Aberdeenshire receives support from vintage vehicle owners
A large number of classic vehicles turned out for yesterday’s rally in support of reopening a community hospital which was shut down four years ago.
The Friends of Insch Hospital’s event attracted everything from a splendid green Jaguar Model D, to a steam-driven automobile, to a range of motorbikes dating back to the 1940s.
The vehicles started arriving before 11am at the hospital which has remained closed since shortly after the start of lockdown in March 2020.
Allison Grant, vice-chairperson of the friends group, said: “The strength of feeling for the hospital was clearly evident as the crowds gathered.
“The Dufftown Pipe Band kicked off the proceedings before the parade set off from the hospital. They then toured Insch itself before heading off to the parishes of Premnay and Leslie.”
“We remain fully committed to doing everything we can to ensure that innovative and essential medical services are reinstated within the existing hospital. The impact of the overall loss of community beds has been acutely felt, particularly by our vulnerable elderly rural population.
“The Friends received generous sponsorship towards Sunday’s event – once again a demonstration of the huge commitment of the community at large to the hospital.”
The hospital was opened at Insch in the aftermath of the First World War, a conflict which had left so many families emotionally stricken and so many survivors with life-altering injuries.
In memory of those who lost their lives a tractor pulled a display to honour all the fallen soldiers from the six parishes of Insch, Leslie, Premnay, Oyne, Culsamond and Chapel of Garioch.
