TRIBUTES have been paid to local GP and campaigner, Dr John Moxon, who died last month at the age of 91.
As chair of Friends of Frome Hospital, for 10 years, John led the campaign to build a new hospital to replace the Frome Victoria Hospital. He also led the group to raise £600,000 for new hospital equipment.
The Frome Community Hospital was opened in 2008, with a meeting room named in his honour, and last year John joined staff past and present, and members of the ‘Friends’ group to celebrate the hospital’s 10th anniversary.
Chair of the Friends of Frome Hospital, Peter Smith, who took over from John, told Frome Times, “It was with great sadness that we learned of the death of John Moxon. John did a great deal for the community in general and for the Friends in particular.
“He joined the Friends of Frome Victoria Hospital as chairman when it was at a low ebb in 1998 and led the fight to replace the ‘Vic’ with a new community hospital for 10 years.
“He had a considerable influence in the design of the hospital and was greatly respected by all those he came across in the Mendip Primary Care Trust (MPCT), which at that time was responsible for the Victoria Hospital.
“The influence of the Friends led by John was such that they were regarded by the MPCT as the voice of the community.
“The community support was extremely strong and on one occasion their chief executive was heard to say, “We dare not tell the people of Frome that they will not have a new hospital!”
“John’s achievements were recognised by Frome Town Council by a Civic Award in 2008 when the new hospital was opened and the meeting room in the hospital was named, The Moxon Suite, in his honour.
“John retired as chairman in 2008 but remained as a trustee of the Friends until his death. “
Head of community services east at Frome Community Hospital, Kay Kittermaster, who was also matron at the old Frome Victoria Hospital and the transitional matron when the new hospital opened in 2008, added, “As you know, Dr John Moxon was very well known to us, not only at the new hospital site, but also at the former Frome Victoria Hospital site.
“He was very much part of the team and instrumental in all aspect of the development and fundraising for the new hospital.
“Dr Moxon contributed to all aspects of life at the hospital, including the annual hospital fetes and our regular league of friends meetings. We were delighted to be able to name our training conference room ‘Moxon Suite’ after Dr Moxon and his memory will live on for years to come.
“We enjoyed working with John very much and he became a very close friend to us.”
