HEALTH bosses have said "thanks a million" to a former Bury family on the official opening of Fairfield Hospital's new education centre.

A bequest of £1 million was made in memory of Syd Palmer, who worked in Bury for 22 years from the 1940s to the 1960s and served on the then Bury Infirmary Hospital management committee.

His nieces, Mrs Kay Page and Mrs Gillian Bulkley, officially opened the £1.8 million centre at a special event attended by NHS and education representatives from across Greater Manchester, along with Mayor and Mayoress of Bury, Councillors Barry and Sharon Briggs, and Bury North MP David Chaytor.

Chairman of the Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, Mr Steven Price, commented: "This fantastic bequest has enabled us to create a superb building but, of course, it is not about bricks and mortar, but about what the centre will enable us to do.

"Over the coming years, thousands of NHS staff will use this building to help them develop their skills and abilities, and in turn, that will mean real benefits to patients. I think that is something which Syds family can be proud of."

Mr Palmer was born in Brockley, south east London, in 1905. He left school at 14 with no qualifications and trained as a shorthand typist, a common role for men in the early 20th century. Mr Palmer joined paper manufacturers James R Crompton and Brothers Ltd in the mid-1930s, around the time he married his sweetheart, Florence.

The couple, known to family and friends as "Syd and Tids" moved to Bury in 1940 when Mr Palmer took up a position at Crompton Mill in Elton. They bought a house in Walmersley Road and Mr Palmer became the only non-family member on the board of directors.

He became involved with the hospital committee after Tids injured her hip. His niece, Mrs Page, recalled: "They had a great affection both for Bury and for the hospital."

A newspaper report about Mr Palmer said that he had merged himself deeply into the life of the town and had made an "invigorating impact" on the organisations he was involved with. These also included the Bury Employment Committee, and the Disabled Persons Advisory Committee.

Taking early retirement at the age of 56, Mr Palmer and his wife moved to Oxfordshire, before settling in West Sussex.

About the bequest, Mrs Page said: "Uncle Syd would have been overwhelmed and very chuffed. He was very caring and held a great affection for Bury even when he moved away."

She added: "My uncle died in 1979 and left the estate to my aunt. It was through her that the estate went to the hospital."

The centre features a 100-seat lecture theatre, named the Palmer Auditorium, plus four seminar rooms, a skills laboratory, a resuscitation training centre, library and offices.

Abbie Edwards, the trusts assistant director of education and training, said: "Education is an investment in the future of the NHS. Giving staff the support to develop their skills and abilities. The NHS is serious about creating an environment of continual skills development and thats a win win situation for both staff and patients."

She added that the centre would benefit staff at all levels, from those doing post-graduate studies to those seeking to gain their first formal qualifications.