Bury St Edmunds community rallies around St Nicholas Hospice Care

Patients, staff and volunteers of St Nicholas Hospice Care were treated to a surprise visit recently as the community continues to rally around the hospice.

Bearing gifts and goodwill, Ipswich Town Football Club players Teddy Bishop, Jonny Williams and Cole Skuse paid a festive visit to the venue.

They spent time with Orchard Day Centre patients and handed out gifts bought by the team, including blankets.

The players visited the hospice’s inpatient Sylvan Ward, where they were greeted by enthusiastic patients, nurses and nursing assistants.

In addition to handing over gifts to patients the players handed over six crates containing groceries.

Miranda McCoy, St Nicholas Hospice Care community fundraiser said: “We were delighted the players gave up their time to visit our hospice to chat to people, sign autographs and have photos taken.”

Meanwhile, a Tardis, Dalek, Devros and a bunch of Time Lords helped a group of die-hard Doctor Who fans collect more than £2,000 for charity.

Aaron Williams, Thomas Seymour, Tuesday Harris, Paul Devine and Wendy Smith pulled out all the stops to bring the sci-fi hit to life in aid of the Hospice at the Christmas Fayre, in Bury St Edmunds.

Their stall, which included a display of Doctor Who costumes, props and villains, invited members of the public to make donations in return for photographs with the Doctors.

This is the second time the group have come together to raise funds for the charity, and a total of £2,083.54 was raised.

Mr Williams said: “We feel that we are making a difference with the money we have made.

“We have had a lot of support from both the local community in helping us with the donations they have made, but also from the hospice in their willingness to help with taking and collecting the memorabilia.”

He thanked the fayre’s organiser Sharon Fairweather for her help and support before and during the four-day event.

Community fundraiser George Chilvers said: “We are so grateful that our Dr Who fundraisers supported our charity again this year.”