LEIGH Infirmary celebrated its 100th birthday with a nostalgic peep into the past but with an eye firmly fixed on a bright future.

Last Friday at the main entrance there was a special ceremony to cut the birthday cake supplied by Waterfields as Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust Chairman, Brian Strett and Minister for Health and MP for Leigh, Andy Burnham spoke of the hospital's importance to the community and the continuation of that role.

Mr Burnham told how as a young boy, he had gone to the accident department there with a fish bone stuck in his throat. He's never forgotten the advisory words of wisdom he received: "go home lad and eat a banana".

After the celebrations he said: "It was quite an emotional gathering because the history of Leigh Infirmary is the history of the community. People lived, worked and died there.

"Here's to the next 100 years - as far as I'm concerned, and as long as I am MP for Leigh, I will be looking to build upon these foundations. There are plans in the offing to modernise Leigh Infirmary."

And Trust chairman Mr Strett emphasised Leigh's importance in future healthcare.

"I was overwhelmed by the way staff got involved - it was a super day," he said.

"Friday was a lot about looking at the past but we are also very concerned in looking to the future and developing a health campus. There is a multi agency use and we are looking to develop this creating strong partnerships to develop modern health care.

"Leigh Infirmary is at the centre of a large, densely populated area and has a vibrant future. There is need for development that is sustainable for the next century."

Today, Leigh Infirmary is the Trust's diagnostic and rehabilitation site, which complements the emergency site at Wigan with space for future development. Leigh is devoted to elective care, protected from the pressures of emergency work and also provides an atmosphere which is attractive to patients undergoing elective investigational procedures.

The first step towards the realisation of a hospital for Leigh sprang from the public spirit and generosity of an Astley spinster, Miss Elizabeth Farnworth, of Town Lane, who lived in the house that is nowadays the Cart and Horses pub. When she died in 1886 she left £1,000 towards the cost. By the time her bequest was needed the original donation had doubled in value.

Lord Lilford gave the site off the Avenue in 1900 and public subscriptions totalled £16,615 and in 1906 Leigh had its own hospital.