Three Lions Beer Festival
William H Painter proudly sponsored a barrel of the ‘White Rat,’ which held its own against the 28 beers and ciders on offer at the annual Three Lions Beer Festival at Shirley British Legion. The aim of the event is to raise as much money as possible for three local Lions Clubs, Solihull Lions, Shirley Lions, Acocks Green Lions.
Lions clubs and the local charities that they support have faced unprecedented financial hardship as a result of the pandemic so fundraising and support from the local community is vitally important.
The beer festival raised over £3500 which will go a long way in supporting those in need.
Always Shining, Never Forgotten
In honour of Bay Loss Awareness Week (9-15th October) Funeral Arranger Administrator Jane Searston set up a ‘Tree of Light’ in aid of Tommy’s, the UK’s largest pregnancy and baby loss charity.
Jane would like to invite members of the community to place a message on the tree or alternatively a member of the Douglas Mercer team can do this on your behalf, email or call the funeral home for more information.
The tree will be in the window until the end of October.
For more information or support visit: https://www.tommys.org/
Donation to St Michael’s for churchyard haven
Funeral Director Aimee Hughes visited St Michael’s Catholic Church in Houghton, where a bench has been installed by the team at Walker & Morrell in thanksgiving for the ministry of Father Bill.
Aimee said: “The bench is located in front of the grotto in the corner of Father’s Garden. The grotto is a very calming and peaceful area to visit, we hope the bench will benefit all parishioners of St Michael’s. If you’re visiting the church, please take time to visit the grotto and sit a while.”
“Be still and know I am with you”.
Nurse takes on sponsored skydive with those who cared for her husband at Hammerton’s Funeral Directors
A nurse took a freefall from 15,000ft with those who arranged her husband’s funeral at Hammerton’s Funeral Directors, Barnsley, with a goal of raising thousands for the hospice that cared for him during his illness.
Diane Lukey teamed up with the Hammerton’s team for a sponsored skydive for Barnsley Hospice two years after her husband passed away due to cancer.
She said: “I cannot fault Barnsley Hospice and Hammerton’s Funeral Directors for how they helped Dave and I through the most difficult time of our lives.
“The care provided by hospices is invaluable, yet so many have been struggling to secure funds since the start of the Covid-19 outbreak. I hope to therefore encourage donations from my community by doing something I’m terrified of.”
Hammerton’s is a regular supporter of Barnsley Hospice, having sponsored its annual Light up a Life memorial service for years and provided funds for a beautiful glass window in its reception area.
Melanie Torley, Operations Manager at Hammerton’s, therefore jumped at the opportunity to organise a fundraiser for the hospice when she saw its appeal for sponsored skydives.
She said: “I shared the advert with my colleagues and immediately received interest, with five of them now registered to freefall for Barnsley Hospice as I cheer them on.”
Funeral Arranger Mary Walton, a long-time friend of Diane and Dave who took charge of arranging his funeral, asked Diane if she’d join her and her colleagues in memory of Dave.
Diane said: “When I saw Mary’s text I thought she was crazy. But when she mentioned it’d be a great thing to do for Dave, that was all the motivation I needed.”
Hammerton’s set up a MuchLoved fundraising page with Mary also creating a JustGiving fundraiser, where friends, family and colleagues have so far donated over £2,500 and £250 respectively.
Diane also set up a JustGiving page that has raised more than £800 in memory of her husband.
The group of six mentally and physically prepared to take off from Hibaldstow Airfield for the 15,000ft free fall for Barnsley Hospice.
Melanie said, “The day was fantastic, the atmosphere at the airbase was amazing! We couldn’t have arranged for better weather either. A beautiful blue sky peppered with a few white fluffy clouds.
“Dawn and Mary were the first to jump, and there was a really touching moment once they had landed, when Mary ran to Dawn and hugged her. Both were elated to have completed their jumps.
“Diane, Phil and Craig were on the second plane. Phil and Diane were both glad to have landed, and Craig was on top of the world when he landed and wanted to go straight back up!”
Donations can be made to the Hammerton’s MuchLoved page at https://charityskydive.muchloved.com/ and Mary’s JustGiving fundraiser at https://tinyurl.com/3f58v8hn
Donations can also be made to Diane’s JustGiving page at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/diane-lukey
Seasonal Window Display gets thumbs up from local schoolchildren
Exeter & District Funeral Service are getting in the autumnal spirit with their seasonal window display.
The display is a hit with local school children who stop to admire it on their way to and from school.
Match for Mind
On Friday 22nd October, Jamie Groves, Regional Development Director for Greater London South offered his footballing expertise to the organisers of Match for Mind.
Straight off the back of raising £40,000 fort Great Ormond Street Hospital with ‘Goals 4 GOSH’ in June, Jamie was bought in to advise on compliance and what it takes to arrange a charity football match. Jamie then participated in the football match which took place at The Park Hall Stadium, home of The New Saints Football Club near Oswestry in Shropshire.
Jamie said:” It was an honour to be asked to advise on this event. It is so important to encourage anyone who is suffering with a mental health issue to speak out. Charities like Mind offer a lifeline to so many who otherwise may feel like they have nowhere else to turn. We all have a part to play in the fight against mental health and this was me playing my small part.”
To date the game has raised approx. £8000. There were approx. 700 people in attendance, with many others watching the game live from home.
Remembrance Window Display
Quinns Funeral Directors West Kirby have decorated their windows in support of the Royal British Legion and to honour both fallen and serving members of the Armed Forces community.
Remembrance Window Display
As well as the traditional red poppy, the team at Torbay & District have used the purple poppy which represents animals lost at war.
The purple poppy has particular significance for the team as they are proud sponsors of Patrick the Pony, a mascot for War Horse Memorial and the Purple Poppy Appeal, which remembers animals that fall victim to war.
Funeral Director Sarah Lockton and Funeral Arranger Katie Rogers will both be attending the purple poppy memorial in Cockington, Torquay on Saturday 6th November 2021.
Remembrance Window Display
Funeral Director Caz Denning is extremely proud of the Remembrance window display this year and rightly so. This display honours both fallen and serving members of the Armed Forces community featuring the First World War poem, ‘In Flanders Fields’
