PAST patients and staff at Frenchay Hospital are being encouraged to share their memories for a new exhibition.

Members of the public are invited to bring photographs and artefacts to an open day next week ahead of the launch of a permanent display chronicling the hospital’s history.

Visitors will be welcome in the academic centre on Thursday, July 30 (10am-4pm) to meet artist Clair Underhill, who is compiling the Heritage Corridor Project.

She said: "If you have memories of Frenchay Hospital as a patient, visitor or a member of the community please come and tell us what it was like, we want to get the richest stories and images that represent Frenchay and its history.

"We are particularly interested in photos from all different eras of the hospital, including those right up to the current day. We'd love to see your old badges, medals, coins and stamps and any other interesting articles and objects that represent your memories of Frenchay."

Clair and her colleagues will take pictures of artefacts, scan photographs and listen to people’s stories which could all be included in the exhibition.

Postcards will be left around the hospital for people to write down their memories and refreshments will be served during the event.

Frenchay Hospital is due to be downgraded into a community healthcare facility when Southmead Hospital becomes the region’s ‘super’ hospital and only accident and emergency room.