Girl to raise hospice funds in memory of great-gran

Kathleen Brown, of Park Way, Hastings, passed away at the hospice on July 20, prompting her great-granddaughter Estelle Howlett to make the touching decision to sell her beloved childhood toys in aid of the St Leonard’s-based hospice.

Estelle was born in Battle and although she now lives in Lewes, she is still a regular visitor to Battle to see her grandmother Clare.

Estelle said: “My great-nannie died recently at St Michael’s Hospice.

“All the family have given donations, but as I have no money to give I thought if I sold my Silvercross dolls pram and my American doll called Harold I could get a lot of money and give it all to the hospice. My nannie bought it (the pram) for me six years ago. I haven’t used it much, as I was too small to reach the handles then and when I did use it, it wasn’t for that long, as it was at my nannie’s house and I would only use it when I went and stayed there. It is navy and white and in a good condition.

“Everyone would stop us when I took Harold for a walk, he looks like a real baby.”

Estelle added: “I loved my great-nannie so much and everyone in St Michael’s Hospice were so kind to her. She said herself it was like a top hotel.”

The pram and Harold the doll will be put on sale on internet auction site eBay tonight (Friday) via seller Stmhospicehastings. Anyone who would like to donate to St Michael’s Hospice, but may not want to give Harold and his pram a home, can donate online via www.justgiving.com/estelles-fundraising