Armed with a case of magical props and a bright red waistcoat, Magician Freddie toured the Children’s Ward performing a host of magic tricks and gifting each patient their very own wand. Magician Freddie was a joyful and charming presence on the ward, sparking captivated stares and laughter from patients and their families from the waiting room to the bedside.
The magical performances were an instant hit with young patients who were even invited to help perform the tricks themselves. Magician Freddie spent a dedicated period of time with the children on the ward, helping to divert attention away from their unfamiliar environment and bring a little fun to their hospital experience.
Maxine Deakin, Play Leader at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals, said: “A stay in hospital can be a worrying time for young children, especially being in an unfamiliar environment away from home and family. During special visits like this it’s great to see so many smiling faces.”
“Thank you to Magician Freddie for bringing a little magic and wonder to the ward.”
The visit was funded by POD Children’s Charity, a nationwide charity which organises entertainment for children whilst staying in hospital. The charity currently provides entertainment shows across 50 hospitals and hospices in the UK, including Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals. With a broad catalogue of entertainers, from magicians and puppeteers to clowns and musicians, POD Children’s Charity provide a valuable service to children’s wards, helping to bring laughter and joy to young patients during a time that is often challenging.
During the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, all POD Children’s Charity visits to hospitals were cancelled in line with restrictions to protect staff and patients. The charity has now begun to gradually resume their monthly visits, with Doncaster Royal Infirmary visits starting back recently over the Christmas period.
Freddie Wilkinson has spent the last nine years of his two-decade professional entertainment career working with POD Children’s Charity, providing magic shows in playrooms, clinics and at the bedside. He takes great pride in supporting the charity’s work and looks forward to visiting the ward again next month.
In speaking about his visit, Freddie said: “It was fantastic to visit the Children’s Ward at Doncaster again with POD Children’s Charity. Watching patient’s faces light up makes it really worthwhile. I hope I was able to bring a little joy and a positive distraction from their stay in hospital.”
The visits to Doncaster Royal Infirmary’s Children’s Ward are kindly funded by Whin Hill & Bessacarr Amateur Gardeners Society who have helped Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals bring a little fun and magic to young patients since 2017. Their generosity is also greatly received by patient’s families. Hospital visits can be an anxious time for both parents and children, and these special visits from the POD Children’s Charity entertainers provide a window of relief for everyone.
