SENIOR dignitaries across north Shropshire have spoken of their pride at being included in the breaking of the ground ahead of a new veterans' centre at Gobowen's Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital.

Shropshire Lord Lieutenant Anna Turner was there as the Queen's representative, but also as a long-term supporter of the hospital's League of Friends (LoF) who started the funding for veteran's health centre with a £100,000 donation.

And she said the hospital is an institution with long-held affection, praising the efforts undertaken in order to make it a world leader in health care.

"What an opportunity for us – it's absolutely wonderful," she said.

"I feel really proud and it gives me a warm glow to think that we're going to be leading military healthcare in Shropshire.

"I'm a patron of the LoF so I have known of the ongoing fundraising projects.

"But my love of this hospital started when I was a very young girl – about five or six – at a school that used to support here.

"We used to come and give concerts here where I was badly singing and dancing to the patients, and that was, I hesitate to say, about 60 years ago.

"I've always held this hospital in such high regard so today really is a lovely, proud day."

North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson was also present for the turf turning, and he has played his part in helping to raise funding awareness from the start.

And he praised the LoF for their work in kickstarting it all.

"What is all so brilliant is that it began as an idea and we held an event at the House of Commons," he added.

"They had quite modest plans but I was advising everyone one to think long term as it can be quite a lot bigger.

"Make sure the foundations and the site could be expanded later and then this enormous amount of money came along, and we had the incredible start from the LoF who lobbed in £100,000 on day one.

"That got us off to a really good start but we really didn't think we could get the whole sum but suddenly the £6 million comes along and it's all going to go ahead.

"We have now this leading project that's going to benefit veterans right across the United Kingdom – it's absolutely brilliant.

"The main thing is that this ambitious project will go up and it will achieve so much. It's marvellous to see everyone here – it's brilliant and lovely."