Weekly Community Roundup – 22nd November 2019

Another great week for our teams up and down the country as they continue to support their local communities, and this week we’re starting to get into the Christmas spirit as Ian Brown Funeral Director give a little something back in aid of the Samaritans Purse Operation Christmas Child Appeal…

Giving for Christmas

The team at Ian Brown have been making up Christmas boxes for the Samaritans Purse Operation Christmas Child Appeal.

The idea is simple- a shoe box is filled with new gifts for children of a variety of ages and sent to children who need them, bringing hope and joy to underprivileged children all around the world.

The boxes were given to the Carstairs Boys Brigade whom the Brown family have links with and support for their Christmas appeal.
To find out more about Operation Christmas Child visit https://www.samaritans.org/

Funeral Director helps raise money for a good cause

Funeral Director Mark Carr belongs to a group called BeDub, a Volkswagen enthusiast group dedicated to all things VW.

The group likes to help out at various local events to raise money for good causes. One of the people Mark raised money for was a local boy with a rare form of blood cancer who sadly passed away in early November 2019.

Mark will be attending a Celebration of Life service to honour this remarkably courageous young man and funds are being raised for the Grand Appeal and Bristol Children’s Hospital Charity.

Hasting Borough Bonfire Society

As well as being a Funeral Director at Banfield & Pomphrey, Tony Hart is also a member of Hastings Borough Bonfire Society.

Hastings Borough Bonfire Society (HBBS) seeks to continue and promote the custom which celebrates Gunpowder Treason Day and 2019 was the 25th anniversary of the Hastings Bonfire.
Each year a beacon is lit and the Hastings Runners run to the waiting procession to light their torches which light the bonfire. The evening culminates in a spectacular fireworks display. Tony has helped build the bonfire for the last two years and cleared up the site as well as helping the Bonfire Society in Rye to build theirs.

All Sussex Bonfire Societies encompass an act of remembrance in their celebrations. This moment to pause and reflect is a chance to remember those individuals who gave their life such that freedom of expression was retained most notably in the two world wars.

Hastings Borough Bonfire Society also represents the town as it showcases the town centre, seafront, and beach area. The volunteers that run the event work all year fundraising to put on this free event which raises money for local charities.

Funeral Arranger helps Watcombe Wanderers FC with new kit sponsor

When Funeral Arranger Sanya Pasquini heard that Watcombe Wanderers FC were looking for a new kit sponsor she knew exactly who to turn to, and after speaking with her Regional Development Manager it was all agreed.

Sanya’s eldest son plays for the Under 12’s side so she has a connection with the club and wanted to help them.

Sanya said: ‘This amazing community club is solely run on funding from the parents, funding from the adults games and community activities. They have teams from as soon as little ones can kick a ball right up into adults. All of the teams are run by FA registered managers who in their own time train twice a week and coach the children’s matches.’

They have tournaments every year where they invite teams from all over the south west and even as far as Wales to come and have a family day out, it really is a family oriented organization.

Sanya’s next initiative with the club will be to help fundraise for an on-site defibrillator as the one they have currently is rented.

Torbay & District get ready for Christmas

Torbay & District Funeral Service are once again helping to promote the Santa’s Grotto in Torquay Town hosted and run by St Marychurch & Babbacombe Rotary Club.

Each year the branch frontage is transformed into a magical winter wonderland but this year the team have excelled themselves and included interactive polar bears which are sure to delight onlookers and passers-by.

Team members Sarah, Sandra, Mark and Amanda will be transforming themselves into Santa’s little helpers for three shifts, assisting with elf duties at the grotto with Sandra, Sarah and Mark also working on Christmas Eve to help wrap the 3000 plus gifts given to children visiting Santa.

Fantastic community spirit being shown here by all.

Funeral Director Climbs Ev’ry Mountain for local charity

Funeral Director Sarah Graham took part in a stage show and charity fundraiser for The Honeypot Children’s Charity.

The hills were alive with the sound of music between 30th October and the 2nd November at Noadswood School in Southampton as Sarah and her cast mates from the Waterside Musical Society treated audiences to a performance from the much-loved musical of the same name.

Sarah played one of the main nuns with all of the cast donating prizes for the charity raffle. All proceeds from the raffle were donated to Honeypot and will help support young carers, ensuring they have the opportunity to make the most of their one chance at childhood.

Waterside Musical Society is also a registered charity so money raised from ticket sales go towards the running of the society and production costs.

Since 1996 Honeypot has been working to enhance the lives of young carers aged 5-12 years by providing respite breaks, giving young carers a break from demanding and stressful responsibilities at home and provide a safe, nurturing environment where children at risk can develop their full potential and on-going outreach support.