Pictured: Birthday boy Bryan Adlum
A volunteer at Rawtenstall Primary Health Care Centre recently celebrated his 90th birthday and clocking up 50 years’ voluntary service to the health service.
To patients and visitors, Bryan Adlum is a familiar face at the Rossendale Hub.
‘Meeting and greeting’ in the Centre’s atrium, Bryan has been giving directions, offering advice and information, and generally putting people at their ease with a friendly smile since the centre opened nine years ago.
But many people – including some members of staff – have been surprised to learn that this sprightly gentleman is 90 years old this month. And this milestone birthday makes him one of the oldest volunteers in East Lancashire.
Volunteering, particularly for the health service and especially for the hospice movement, has filled Bryan’s life for more than 50 years.
The great grandfather said: “I have always liked helping people – even if it’s just a smile or friendly word to put people at their ease.”
Bryan can truly claim his connection with the Valley’s health service dates back to the day he was born. He came into the world at the now demolished Rossendale General Hospital!
Educated at St Mary’s CE School, Rawtenstall, and later Alder Grange Secondary School, Bryan left at the age of 14 to start work as a wool sorter at the New Hall Hey woollen mill.
At the age of 18, he was called for National Service, serving as a driver and in the Regimental Police, in Palestine, Tripoli and Egypt.
He said: “It did me a power of good and taught me discipline and respect for people. I am a great advocate of the need to bring back National Service.”
After leaving the Army, Bryan went back to the New Hall Hey Mill in the 1950s and later went on to work as an ambulance driver, based in Stacksteads.
He added: “That was when there was no siren on the ambulance, just a brass bell on the front!”
Bryan was also a traffic warden, the first in Haslingden, but left the job after a few months. He said: “Traffic wardens aren’t well liked, and I don’t like not being popular!”
A love of the outdoors, walking and keeping fit have kept him in good health for 90 years and were just some of the activities he enjoyed as a volunteer countryside guide for Rossendale Groundwork.
Bryan has been married to Joyce for 67 years and the couple have two daughters, Denise and Jackie, three grandchildren and six great grandchildren. They will be among family and friends joining him for a birthday celebration at Sykeside Countryside Hotel in Haslingden.
Typically, Bryan, who says he loves a challenge, is working on how to give something back to the community he loves to mark his birthday.
On his 70th birthday, he and Jackie undertook a sponsored Dalesway Walk. And, on his 80th birthday he made a sky dive … both raising funds for the North West Air Ambulance.
Bryan reckons he has carried out at least 900 ‘meet and greet’ sessions since the Health Centre opened and is showing no signs of slowing down.
He said: “To anyone who is thinking of volunteering, I would say ‘go for it’. Make yourself and other people happy and give something back to the community into the bargain.”
Michelle Bennett-Coupe, Tenant Liaison Manager for the Community Health Partnership, said: “Bryan is a well-liked and valuable asset to the centre. Reliable, conscientious and always willing to help. He’s brilliant.”