THE leading figure at Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals Charity is stepping down.

Chief executive Gill Raikes shepherded the charity through nearly a decade of events, appeals, carol concerts and fun runs.

During the pandemic, she ran the first emergency appeal, while, at the same time, keeping day-to-day pledges to raise funds for new imaging equipment and the Patients’ Fund.

Gill said: “My time [here] has been an incredible privilege. Seeing the power that fund-raising can achieve, and the differences to people’s lives, is very moving.”