A civic charity fund has boosted the North Walsham War Memorial Hospital Friends’ coffers by more than £4000.
The town’s outgoing mayor Barry Hester made the town’s hospital Friends his civic charity of the year.
And after a successful series of events he has handed over £4221.02 – more than twice the £2000 target he set himself for his year of office, which ended in May.
The fund was boosted by donations and money-raising events from across the community, and Mr Hester said “a lot of people were happy to help because they want to support the hospital.”
Events included cinema and fireworks on the park, a 24-hour pools marathon, bike and trike weekend, civic dinner, donated shoes sold on market stalls and in the Kitale charity shop, and a comedy night which starred TV funnyman Hal Cruttenden.
Mr Hester handed the cash over to Friends chairman Keith Jarvis at the North Walsham War Memorial Hospital, thanking everyone who helped stage and man events.
They included Rob Scammell and Shelly, Phil McCormack, Callum Tartt and Shelby Evans, Peter Edge, Judy and Alexander Oliver, Fiona Turner, Jenny Melville and Tina Foster, Anne Bullimore, Mary Seward and Helen Constantinou.
In his previous stint as mayor in 2016 he raised £1900, split between the North Walsham Dementia Support Group and the World War One window restoration in the parish church. This time he was pleased to help the Friends with their work in providing extras for the popular community hospital.
Friends chairman Keith Jarvis praised Mr Hester and those who contributed to the appeal, and said the committee was looking into a specific project for civic cash.
Recent Friends projects have included a £22,000 day room refurbishment, and ongoing improvements to the garden.
The next Friends’ next fundraiser is a Music for a Summer’s Evening concert of popular organ classics played by Jon Payne in the parish church on Saturday 20th July at 7.30pm. Tickets £8 (£5 concessions) on 07540440122 or http://www.northwalsham.eventbrite.co.uk
The trike and bike weekend, organised by White Swan publican Pete Edge, is being held again in aid of the hospital Friends next Easter.
