Bury St Edmunds Nostalgia - Rainbow Appeal secretary bids farewell as gift shop in West Suffolk Hospital moves to town centre

In today's nostalgia we look back to 1997 when a familiar face was to leave a hospital's charity.

Naomi Nicholson, 27, was the secretary for West Suffolk Hospital's Rainbow Appeal, but she was saying goodbye to the job as she had to move her business, Naomi’s gift shop, from its home at the hospital to Bury St Edmunds town centre.

Naomi’s and two other shops were beaten to the hospital shop tender by United News Shops.

At the time, Naomi was able to keep an eye on her business by working at the appeal office opposite her shop. But when her shop was to move to the town centre she would have to move along with it.

"I am sad to be leaving the Rainbow Appeal. I would have loved to have stayed to see it reach its £1million target," said Naomi who had been with the appeal for more than two years.

"I have loved every minute of it and I wish the appeal every success. I hope it reaches its goal soon."

At the time of publication, Naomi was running her business from home and planned to keep her three part-time staff when she reopened.

"My staff and I are very excited about the move. The new shop will be a wedding and party shop which will sell everything you ever wanted for a party."