Last week's very snowy start to the new year saw challenges aplenty - including within our car parks and grounds. Our Estates Team worked non-stop last week to try to ensure paths and car parks were cleared as quickly as possible. They were even on hand to help dig colleagues out of snowed-in car parking spaces.

One such colleague was Outpatient Matron, Rachel Roberts, who had managed to get into work on Monday but needed to park in a snowy spot. She said: "I decided not to worry about it as I'd find a shovel later and dig myself out at the end of the day. Also, I knew that I could walk home - if I really had to!

"Around mid-morning the snow plough passed by, clearing the snow from the main road but sadly it meant my yellow Fiat, who I've called Bumblebee, was even more snowed-in. I still wasn't too worried, I just chuckled at the irony of the snow plough passing by. In the afternoon I noticed some of our Estates colleagues were helping dig out a stuck colleague's car, so I went out and pleaded my own case.

"They were only too happy to oblige, and managed to get Bumblebee dug out in no time. Thank you to the good humour of the team who helped. It was very much appreciated."