SONGS SUNG MERRILY
(Herald Express 8/12/2005)
by Pete Bennett

CHARITABLE CHORUS: Bourne Ends carol singers at full throttle

Bourne End was filled with the sounds of festive favorites this week, all in aid of the Hospice of St Francis.

Each year villagers gather at the Anchor pub, on two evenings in December, to bring some Christmas cheer and raise some cash for a local charity and this year they decided to try and Dig Deep for the hospice.
Mike Pritchard, Chairman of the Bourne End Village Association, said the carol singing round the village was a long-standing event.
He added: "We have supported the hospice before but thought it particularly appropriate to support them this year with their capital campaign for the new premises.
"The hospice is a very important part of the community and is there to help in those last days. The other important thing is the hundreds of smaller pieces of fundraising that will turn into the big piece."

The village singers were out on Monday night and raised £142, a figure they hoped would have doubled by last night when they completed their second evening of carols.
Mr. Pritchard added: "People are very generous in Bourne End. I think everybody enjoyed the night and enjoyed raising the money. I think we are enthusiastic singers and that's the important thing!"
The total raised by the Herald Express Dig Deep Campaign now stands at £124,115 after two months.

Last week saw an additional £9,900 of regular giving forms and one off donations given to the hospice towards its target of £2.5 million.
Roger Sharp, community appeals manager at the hospice said: "We're pleased that the money keeps coming in, despite the number of international and national charity appeals last year."