William H Painter Funeral Directors 10k walk for Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice
Staff members at William H Painter Funeral Directors took part in a 10k enchanted walk around Selly Oak and Bourneville to raise money for Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice.
Staff members who took part included: Fiona Hughes, Katie Hughes, Sharon Calvert and Emma Welch. Past employee Joan Beddows also joined and Ellie Hughes a family member of one of the team.
The walk was a circular route that started and finished at Rowe Heath Pavilion, where refreshments were available. The walk also included acrobats, jugglers, stilt walkers and a choir to keep the walkers entertained. There were between 600-700 people taking part this year.
The walk started off at 6pm, through parks and the streets of Birmingham. There were marshals along the route to support the team along the way. The team at William H Painter were also supported by members of the public cheering and honking as they passed them in their cars.
At 7km mark the team reached the hospice itself where they could have a short break for refreshments and a chance to light a candle in memory of someone special to them.
The walk continued past dark, and the William H Painter team crossed the finish line at approximately 8.15pm.
Emma Welch a Funeral Director at William H Painter said: “we thoroughly enjoyed the evening and we’d be happy to do it again”.
To date, William H Painter Funeral Directors have raised £510 and are continuing taking donations.
L C Hill & Son sponsor the dog show at Mere Carnival
Mere Carnival’s Family Fun Day was last weekend on Saturday 18th September 2021. The day consisted of a £500 mega draw, music from local bands, food stalls, a bar, junior rides, fancy dress, and a dog show.
Caroline Joyce a Funeral Arranger/ Administrator at L C Hill & Son arranged the sponsorship with Rose Heesom a committee member at Mere Carnival.
L C Hill & Son provided Mere Carnival with two large banners to appear on the fence near the dog show to advertise their sponsorship.
T W Boorman and W F Groombridge donate pamper hamper to Barnes Lodge
T W Boorman Funeral Services and W F Groombridge Funeral Directors donated a pamper hamper to Barnes Lodge.
Banes Lodge is a local nursing home located in Tonbridge, who are fundraising to take the residents to London to go on a boat on the River Thames. Unfortunately, the event was cancelled last year due to pandemic and the residents were unable to go.
The trip has been rescheduled for this year and the tickets previously purchased are still being honoured by the river boat experience company.
The pamper was included in their raffle, with the lady who received the hamper saying she: “was very pleased”.
To find out more information: https://rapporthousingandcare.co.uk/
Wendy Tolley completes 10-mile swim for Breast Cancer Now
Wendy Tolley a Funeral Arranger at Roy Quinton in Walsall swam 10 miles during July for Breast Cancer Now.
Breast Cancer Now is the UK’s largest breast cancer charity. They provide world-class research and care for people affected by breast cancer.
Wendy booked slots at the swimming pool at Oak Park Leisure Centre in Walsall and completed the 10 miles within 3 weeks from her start date.
Wendy said: “it was a challenge due to pool restrictions, due to covid”.
Wendy exceeded her original target of £200 and raised a total of £234 for Breast Cancer Now!
Breast Cancer Now commented on Wendy’s Facebook donation page congratulating her on smashing her target and thanking her for thinking of Breast Cancer Now.
Donate now at: https://breastcancernow.org/donate
Essentials Appeal Collection of toiletries for Mental Health Resource
T W Boorman and W F Groombridge Funeral Services has previously been involved in the Essentials Appeal and due to this success have continued to support the initiative. The Funeral Services were previously able to donate over 30 bags of toiletries for the service users at Mental Health Resource a local charity in Tunbridge wells.
Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, they were unable to continue the collection point recently. Now the lockdown rules have been lifted they are able to continue the collection again.
The aim of the initiative is to provide toiletries and essentials for people who may struggle to buy them themselves.
Samantha Wasmuth a Funeral Arranger / Administrator at T W Boorman said: “any donations of those essential items are so greatly received by us and them, from shower gels, shampoos, toothpaste, and toothbrushes”.
Donate to the Mental Health Resource here: https://www.mentalhealthresource.org.uk/Appeal/donate
James Brown & Sons, Knockbreda donates £250 to Knockbreda Methodist
The Minster at Knockbreda Methodist Rev Heather Bell is currently managing a community project. This project consists of a man shed with tools, pond dipping for children, a pizza oven, an art, and crafts shed with a kitchen for hospitality, a vegetable garden, a compost area, and a boot washing area.
A big part of the community project is the well, which is currently under development with a new pump. James Brown & Sons Funeral Directors, Knockbreda wanted to contribute to this community project by donating £250 towards the well.
John Gray & Co Funeral Directors Hydration Station for Dogs
Barbara Wilson a Funeral Arranger at John Gray & Co Funeral Directors in Holywood has set up a drinking station outside the branch for dogs.
The drinking station has been a well-received and widely used with dog owners waving in and stopping by at the branch for a chat.
Barbara Wilson said: “It’s proving to be more popular than I originally thought”.
John Gray & Co Funeral Directors are hoping to make improvements to the drinking station and invest in a stand.
John Blenkiron & Sons donate raffle prize to Cancer Research UK
John Blenkiron & Sons Funeral Directors in Barnard Castle donated a raffle prize to Cancer Research UK’s local Teesdale Branch.
Joanna Ashwell at John Blenkiron & Sons Funeral Directors donated four bottles of wine to Pam Ashmore at Cancer Research UK.
The raffle prizes were given out at the Agricultural Show on the 18th of September 2021 to raise funds for Cancer Research UK.
Community reaction to John Gray & Co’s weekly Manna Table
Barbara Wilson, a Senior Funeral Arranger at John Gray & Co Funeral Directors arranged a food table to help families facing hardship during Covid-19. The Manna Table is a weekly occurrence every Tuesday at High Street Presbyterian Church and has been ongoing since the second week of June 2021.
Donations have continued to come into the John Gray & Co Funeral Directors, Holywood branch and sent to the Manna Table.
Barbara Wilson has commented on the continued success of the Manna Table: “more and more families are visiting”.
The local press was well received and the interaction within the local community has continuing to grow.
More members of the public have offered to volunteer on the table including a family which Barbara had previously arranged a funeral for.
Huntley Funeral Services continues to work with St David’s and Queens Cottage
Martyn Jeynes a Senior Funeral Director at Huntleys Funeral Services in Redditch helped to serve tea at St David’s and Queens Cottage Redditch.
St David’s House and Queens Cottages is a retirement and assisted living facility located in Redditch.
Martyn said: “I love spending time with the older generation, just talking and chit chatting with the St David’s and Queens cottages family”. She also gets involved by “singing songs, playing snooker or even sorting mobiles out”.
Martyn Jeynes has continued to work with St David’s and Queens Cottage Redditch after their previous sponsorship with them for a Mother’s Day afternoon tea event. She hopes that she can help to enhance the lives of the residents by supporting the events team.
Martyn Jeynes will continue to work with St David’s and Queens Cottage Redditch and is even attending a BBQ this Saturday!
St David’s House and Queens Cottage events team continue to raise awareness of upcoming events on their social media.
To find out more information visit St David’s House and Queens Cottage’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/St-Davids-House-and-Queens-Cottages-320149641723575
Ashdown Funeral Services become a collection point for the Children’s Hospital Pyjamas Appeal
Ashdown Funeral Services in Belvedere and Sidcup have announced they are collection points for this year’s Children’s Hospital Pyjamas Appeal.
The appeal runs from the 1st of September until the 31st of October 2021, which allows for the pyjamas to be disturbed a lot earlier this year.
The branches are looking for donations of brand-new pairs of pyjamas from new-born to 18-year-old, these donations will be shared between local hospitals, hospices, and women’s refuges.
Ashdown Funeral Services have been a collection point for the last three years and have had a great reaction from the local community.
For more information on the Children’s Hospital Pyjamas Appeal follow their Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Childrenshospitalpyjamas/
