Royal feast boosts Julia's House appeal

This week Omnes Ad Unum presented a cheque for £658.40 to the children’s hospice charity, which the Gazette has chosen as its appeal to mark the paper’s 200th anniversary.

Organiser Mike Sanders said: “Omnes is pleased to be a contributor to the obvious success of the Gazette’s appeal and the establishment of Julia’s House hospice in Devizes.”

The cheque was presented to the charity by Rev Canon Paul Richardson of St John’s Church. Half of all the money raised by Omnes Ad Unum goes to the church.

He said: “Omnes provides an admirable vehicle through which the church can help the community. This is the third time it has contributed to Julia’s House and has generated over £1,200 for the cause.”

Among those gathered in the churchyard for the presentation was chef Peter Vaughan who helped create the menu for the Queen’s 90th birthday event and actress Rosemary Hawthorne of Long Street, Devizes, who is better known as the The Knicker Lady, who gave an amusing talk on pants through the ages at the feast evening.

David Dawson, director of Wiltshire Museum, was also there to thank the fundraising group as a donation of £2,602 earlier in the year allowed him to qualify for a grant of nearly £30,000, which was used to restore parts of the museum.

The fundraisers have a number of other events lined up for the past few months of the year including a performance by Chloe Jordan at St John’s Church on September 23 at 7.30pm.

Money raised from this event will be split between the church and Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

One of the biggest events will be a bazaar and Christmas tree festival to be held at the church on December 2. It will include around 40 stalls, a food hall and fun fair rides.

Mr Sanders said: “This will be our main event this year with proceeds once again going to local children’s charities. Our target is £10,000.”

The tree festival will continue until twelfth night and culminate in a carol concert.