ERROR RG P4 3.6.1993 A photograph in Tuesday's special section on the Women's Hospital Auxiliary misidentified a member of its executive board. The caption should have identified recording secretary Mr. John Gilbert.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Women's Hospitals Auxiliary.

Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan and Lady Swan hosted a special reception for WHA's executive board and members on the weekend at Camden. And a thanksgiving service was held for the group at the Anglican Cathedral on Sunday.

Articles in this supplement also serve to highlight a few of the organisation's achievements. For it would be difficult to list everything that the group -- which has become the life-support system of Bermuda's hospitals, has accomplished since its inception in March, 1953.

Founded by Bermuda Hospitals Board member Mrs. Frances Hallamore and ten friends who recognised the need for a corps of volunteers to supplement hospital staff and raise money for improvements, WHA has grown into a 600-strong force responsible in part for Bermuda's hospitals' high standard of care.

About 400 of the WHA's members, better known as Pink Ladies and Gentlemen are active.

And some 50 can be found at the hospitals on any given day.

There are also 90 14- to 18-year-olds in the ranks of the organisation's junior wing -- the Candy Stripers. These youngsters work side-by-side with the Pink Ladies and Gentlemen on weekends and during their summer and winter holidays.

Although they are most visible at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, WHA members also serve at St. Brendan's Psychiatric Hospital and Bermuda's only home for the terminally ill -- Agape House.

Their duties extend to every hospital department -- wherever their help is needed the most, including manning reception desk, delivering prescriptions from the pharmacy, serving in the Coffee Shop at King Edward and assisting in the emergency, Extended Care and Intensive Care units and on all of the general wards.

The WHA also organises weekly services at the hospital's Chapel.

On a daily basis, Pink Ladies and Gentlemen can be found delivering flower bouquets to patients and wheeling a hospitality cart loaded with publications, toiletries, small gifts and other items through the wards.

The Women's Hospitals Auxiliary even throws parties for patients on special occasions. Its Christmas party for those on the children's ward, which includes a visit from Santa is one of the most popular parties.

One of the organisation's newest services has received high praise from visitors to the Island who have found themselves confined to the hospital.

Overseas Family Help Service finds reasonably-priced accommodation near KEMH for visitors' family members, arranges interpreters for patients who do not speak English and makes a telephone available 24 hours for overseas calls.

And WHA president Mrs. Kay Mayor said there is someone on duty everyday at the hospital to assist visitors who find themselves in such unfortunate circumstances.

Just as important as WHA members' "hands-on'' work is the substantial amount of financial contributions they have made to the hospitals.

Over the years they have purchased hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of equipment, including ambulances, cardiac monitoring systems, Cat Scan and Ultra Sound machines, and wheelchairs.

The Bermuda Hospitals Board submits request for assistance to purchase medical equipment and supplies or to fund special projects and WHA answers the call as much as their budget will allow.

One extensive project was the 1990 refurbishment of all birthing rooms in the maternity ward at King Edward.

In the early days, WHA mainly raised money for the hospitals through tag days and fairs.

But since the late 1960s, the WHA's Coffee Shop and Gift Shop on the ground floor of King Edward and The Barn thrift shop on St. Brendan's Lane, Devonshire, have been the main source of income.

At the organisation's last annual general meeting, the three businesses posted combined annual earnings of more than $215,000 -- with every penny going towards improving existing hospital facilities.

"Most (overseas) auxiliaries are amazed at the amount of money we raise from our fund raising businesses,'' advisory chairperson Lady Astwood said.

The Coffee and Gift shops, which opened along with the new hospital building in 1965, have become popular fixtures. Once manned entirely by Pink Ladies, the Coffee Shop's popularity required the hiring of some paid staff members.

The restaurant offers everything from continental breakfasts and sandwiches to hot meals and salads from Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4.45 p.m.

The Gift Shop has become a shopping landmark in Bermuda with its selection of unusual locally made gifts. The mixture of goods includes toys, baby items, silk flowers, place mats, greeting cards, calendars and cook books.

A group of women, known as the Sterling Stitchers for their knitting, sewing and crocheting skills, also provide items such as baby clothes, cushions and other gifts for the Gift Shop.

Gift Shop volunteer Mrs. Joan White said the shop is especially popular around Christmas time -- when an unmatchable variety of festive presents fill the shelves.

In addition to the Gift Shop, The Barn also offers a variety of new and slightly used items.

Open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, The Barn is located opposite St.

Brendan's Hospital in Devonshire.

Lady Astwood said the charity is always looking for new members of any age and gender. She said they particularly would like to attract more men in the organisation's ranks. Membership applications can be obtained at the WHA's office next to the reception desk at the entrance of KEMH.

FORTY YEARS OF SERVICE -- Executive board members of the Women's Hospitals Auxiliary were honoured on the weekend at a reception hosted by Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan and Lady Swan at Camden. Pictured from top to bottom are former chairman of Bermuda Hospitals Board Mr. Richard Spurling, second vice president of WHA Mrs. Vivienne King, first vice president Mrs. Aida Bostelmann, WHA advisory chairman and former president Lady Astwood, treasurer Mrs. Magda Farag, corresponding secretary Mrs. Esme Swan, and WHA president Mrs. Kathleen Mayor.