A copper leaf, celebrating the £1m donation to the N&N Hospitals Charity, has been placed on the ‘Eternal Celebratory Tree’ at Cromer and District Hospital.

The family of Douglas de Bootman handed over £1,078,519.30 at the end of last year which the retired farmer had left in his will to Cromer Hospital.

The new leaf is the first to be placed on the tree since it moved to its new permanent position inside the hospital, making way for the new state-of-the-art cancer care and support centre being built at the hospital.

The copper tree, which is more than two metres tall, stands in the atrium of the hospital.

Members of the public are being invited to purchase their own dedicated leaf to remember and celebrate someone special.

People can sponsor and dedicate either a maple leaf or an oak leaf for £50, which is then personalised with a message and hung on the tree.

N&N Hospitals Charity Head of Fundraising, Louise Cook, said: “Once a leaf has been purchased, it will be a part of the tree for at least three years.

“Your leaf will be engraved with your message, name or dates as an unique way to remember a special person or occasion.

“All money raised from the leaves will go to our Cromer Fund which directly benefits patients, visitors and staff to Cromer Hospital site.”

For more information or to purchase a leaf, please contact fundraising@nnuh.nhs.uk or telephone 01603 287107.