PICTURES: Hospice shop celebrates 25th birthday

Arun District Council chairman Stephen Haymes and volunteer Maureen Parker cut the cake

This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.

Staff, volunteers and supporters at the popular St Barnabas House shop in Rustington celebrated its 25th birthday with a party.

Among the guests were Arun District Council chairman Stephen Haymes and chief executive Nigel Lynn, Rustington Parish Council chairman Alison Cooper and Worthing mayor Sean McDonald.

Hugh Lowson, chief executive of St Barnabas House, presented assistant manager Tracy Walton with a ten-year staff long-standing award.

He also presented three shop volunteers with long-standing service awards. Maureen Parker, who originally started volunteering at the hospice’s Storrington shop, received a 15-year badge, Shirley Fletcher received a ten-year badge and Ann Buss received a five-year badge.

Long-standing service award winners, from left, Tracy Walton, assistant manager and volunteers Maureen Parker, Shirley Fletcher and Ann Buss

The shop was decorated in style by shop manager Sue Miles and the stunning St Barnabas birthday cake was made by warehouse manager Karen Bentley.

Mr Haymes, who cut the cake with Maureen, said he was delighted to attend the 25th birthday celebrations on Wednesday.

“It’s great testament to all the staff, volunteers, public and donors that this branch has achieved such a milestone,” he said.

“Twenty-five years of hard work and fundraising has made a real difference to the provision of hospice care in this area.”

Worthing mayor Sean McDonald, Rustington Parish Council chairman Alison Cooper and Arun District Council chairman Stephen Haymes

The Rustington shop was the third St Barnabas shop to open in 1992. Last year alone, the shop team processed and sold more than 28,000 items that were generously donated. The profit made last year would pay for 103 individual stays in the in-patient unit at the hospice.

Jan Harper, head of retail, said: “Inviting everyone to the 25th birthday celebration was our way of saying thank you to our amazing team of volunteers and everyone in the local community for supporting us with their generous donations and custom over the years. We all had a great time and I’d like to thank everyone who came along to join in the fun.”

The shop, at 56 The Street, Rustington, sells clothing, shoes and accessories, fabulous bric-a-brac and small electrical items, and is always looking for donations to help raise funds for the hospice.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1 Make our website your homepage at www.littlehamptongazette.co.uk

2 Like our Facebook page at Littlehampton Gazette Facebook

3 Follow us on Twitter @LhamptonGazette

4 Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Littlehampton Gazette - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.