A SPECIAL reception was held at Warrington Hospital to mark the retirement of trust chairman Norman Banner.

Mr Banner, aged 57, was appointed chairman of North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust when it came into operation on April 1, 2001. Prior to that he was chairman of Warrington Hospital NHS Trust for eight years. He is married to Louise, and has two young sons.

Friends and colleagues past and present joined him at a special ceremony held at the hospital's postgraduate centre dining room on Tuesday.

Mr Banner said: "It has been an honour and privilege to serve Warrington and Halton Hospitals and work alongside the senior directors and clinicians.

"I am delighted to have seen so many developments in Warrington over the past 12 years and Halton over the past three years which continue to improve the healthcare of our towns."

Mr Banner is succeeded by Allan Massey, formerly vice chairman of Halton Primary Care Trust, who took up the post on December 1 for a term of four years.

Mr Massey, aged 56, was brought up in Warrington and works for Warrington Borough Council. He is married to Mary and has a daughter. He lives in Halton and serves on Halton Borough Council.

He said: "I am delighted to have been appointed trust chairman and look forward to the challenges ahead.

"My priority will be to provide integrated services to the people of Halton and Warrington which meets their needs and achieve the services and quality of improvements as outlined in the NHS plan."