A Sutton woman has left almost #2m to her local hospital as a thank you for the treatment she received when she was alive.

Margaret Hollier has bequeathed her house in Four Oaks and its land, amounting to a total of #1.8m, to Good Hope Hospital.

Betty Firth, aged 79, a retired nurse from Four Oaks, and a life-long friend of Margaret and her husband Harry, said: "Margaret had been in Good Hope Hospital a few times earlier in her life. She had even been in the hospital when it was just the house.

"She was always impressed with the service she received and realised how important the hospital is to the local community.

"She wanted to support clinical education so the money would make a difference in the long-term and not just go into the NHS pot."

Consultant Physician Dr John Milles, who is a member of a hospital committee set up to manage the fund created by the bequest, said: "This was an incredibly generous donation.

"It will do a great deal to support clinical education and training at Good Hope Hospital which will lead to real benefits for our patients. We are very grateful to Mrs Hollier for bequesting her estate in this way."

Margaret Hollier died in March 2002, aged 95. Her husband, Harry, died aged 93, in February 1993. The hospital has already named its main lecture theatre the Harry Hollier Lecture Theatre. Some of the money has been used to improve the theatre's presentation audio-visual equipment.

The hospital has now officially launched the first element of the improvement in clinical education generated by the donation.

Good Hope has also set up the Hollier Travelling Fellowship. Every year, junior doctors will give presentations on a project they wish to carry out to a panel of senior clinicians. The winner will receive #1,500 to help meet the cost of the training.

Dr Milles said: "With such a large amount of money we want to ensure it is spent wisely so it has the biggest possible impact and makes a long-term contribution to clinical education at the hospital."

Margaret was born at Blake Street Farm while Harry was born at Station Road, Wylde Green, and they lived in Sutton Cold-field all their lives.

They married in 1929 and initially lived in Clarence Road before moving to Lichfield Road during the 1930s.

From selling milk from a handcart, Harry became a successful businessman with his own car repair and hire company, and a property investment business.

Margaret's only sister, Edna Holt, died at Good Hope in August 1990.