A NURSE from the 1950s has been replaced by a friendly dragon to help raise funds for Taunton’s Musgrove Park Hospital.

Chameleon the Dragon is the new face of the League of Friends of the Taunton Hospital, which helps buy extra equipment for Musgrove.

The model nurses dressed in 1950s uniform represented the charity at the former East Reach Hospital over 50 years ago and was recently discovered during a clean-up and then repaired.

The League’s chairman, Peter Renshaw, said: “The nurse represents our tradition and experience.

“Change and innovation are reflected in our new mascot, Chameleon the Dragon.

“We hope he will appeal to younger supporters and schools and draw attention to the work we do for Musgrove.

“We are asking people to be a ‘Friend of the Dragon’ and display a car sticker.”

The Friends recently gave over £1million to Musgrove to equip the Jubilee Building’s 112 rooms and four new acute bays in A&E, with a further £60,000 going on a simulator to train cardiac doctors around the South-West.

Taunton and Pickeridge Golf Club has pledged to support the charity following the closure of Taunton Vale Golf Club, which raised more than £100,000 hosting the Musgrove Cup over the years.

At the League’s AGM, Mr Renshaw presented executive members Margaret Hill and Julia Steer with certificates of appreciation to mark over half a century of service.

He also thanked retiring executive members and welcomed Richard Addyman, Nigel Handbury, Vittorio Cinque and Sally Oliver.

“I’d like to thank local fundraisers who help us to help the hospital at a time when the NHS is struggling to provide all they would like for patients.”

Meanwhile, the Friends have announced plans to open a new shop to run alongside the existing one at Musgrove “in due course”.

It comes after one of its shops was closed to make way for new building work, a move which saw its income dip.

*Dragon stickers are available from Miles Tea Room, the League of Friends shop.