Soroptimists' charter lunch

£1,500 presented to Newbury and Thatcham Hospital Building Trust

SOROPTIMIST International Newbury and District held its 60th Charter Lunch at the on Sunday, during which the group presented a £1,500 cheque to their chosen charity.

The lunch, held at the Regency Park Hotel, Thatcham, was hosted by president Katy Hawthorne, who welcomed the mayor of Newbury, Howard Bairstow, and mayoress Jo Day, as well as the Soroptimist International regional president Pamela Robertson.

The gathering also heard from guest speaker and local actor Helen Franklin who talked about her recent work supporting senior people while juggling a busy family life.

Following the lunch, president Katy Hawthorne presented a cheque for £1,500 to trustee of the Newbury and Thatcham Hospital Building Trust Nick Galbraith, for the dialysis unit at West Berkshire Community Hospital.

The money had been raised by Newbury Soroptimists at their annual Pancake races and lunches, and other fundraising events.

Mrs Hawthorne said: “I chose the dialysis unit as there are now approximately 28 people in our area needing dialysis and they have to travel many times a week to either the Royal Berkshire Hospital or other hospitals.

“Providing dialysis locally obviously means they will no longer have to travel several miles for treatment which can only be a good thing for patients.”