The National Health Service celebrates its 60th birthday on July 5, with the anniversary to be marked with open days at Stamford Hospital and Peterborough District Hospital (PDH).

And as a further commemoration, the trust which runs both sites is appealing for people to come forward with their special memories of working at, or visiting, the hospitals.

It is planned to combine the recollections in a book due for publication in 2010, which will contain personal testimonies and other material about the hospitals' pasts.

Public governor for the Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Mark Bush said: "We are hoping both open days will be very well attended and great fun for all the family.

"As they are both about the NHS turning 60, we would love to hear from anyone who remembers what it was like to visit or work in Stamford or Peterborough hospitals during the mid-20th century, with a view to them attending the events and perhaps being guests of honour."

The trust is particularly keen to hear from anyone who remembers Peterborough Memorial Hospital, set up in the wake of the First World War after a public fund-raising drive which generated the then colossal figure of £89,000.

Share your memories of the NHS and hospitals in the Peterborough area down the years by emailing Jemma Walton at jemma.walton@peterboroughtoday.co.uk

Opened in the late '20s, it was transferred to the control of the NHS in 1948 and came under Number 12 Group of the East Anglian Regional Hospitals Board.

The Memorial Hospital site was enlarged during the '60s to become PDH, which opened in 1969. The original building survived the redevelopment project and went on to be used as a geriatric wing.

Pioneers from the early days of the district hospital are also being sought by the trust, and they will get a chance to record their memories for the planned book at the PDH open day to be held between 11am and 3pm on Sunday, July 6.

Forms will be available at a hospital history display on which visitors can record their recollections, or they can relate them verbally to hospital governors manning the stand.

Alternatively, people can write down their memories at their convenience and send them to Katy Lamb, Communications Department, Edith Cavell Hospital, Peterborough, PE3 9GZ. Photos should be included if possible, which will be returned after the book is published.

The Stamford Hospital open day is on Saturday, July 5.

Both days will feature behind-the-scenes tours of clinical and support areas and activities promoting healthy living.

We love to receive your pictures and memories of Peterborough.
Please contact features writer: Hannah Gray, Looking Back, The Evening Telegraph, 57 Priestgate, Peterborough, PE1 1JW, e-mail hannah.gray@peterboroughtoday.co.uk or call 01733 588726. All submitted pictures will be returned.