Month: February 2024

He’s known as the Tombola Man and is a familiar face among stallholders and shoppers at Macclesfield market.

Gary Henshaw has been raising funds for East Cheshire Hospice for almost two years with his game of lucky dip.

Unfortunately, the retired businessman was forced to shelve his tombola stall due to health issues.

But he plans to return in the spring, adding to the £10,045 he has already raised for the Hospice.

Gary Henshaw who has raised more than £10,000 for East Cheshire Hospice from his tombola stall.

It costs £1 to enter the draw with a prize won on every spin of his tombola drum.

Winners take home prizes including jewellery, watches, make-up, pens, wine and ornaments.

Gary said: “It’s a bit of fun for a wonderful cause and every penny taken goes to the Hospice.

“We have 40 balls, half with numbers on and a star prize. Even the blank balls win a prize worth more than the £1 entry.

“Virtually all the prizes are new and have been donated. Companies give me end of line products for charity. One firm has just given me half a warehouse of stuff, including bags and pens.

“I love being out there with the public. I want to thank everyone for their support, including the market, and those who’ve donated items – I couldn’t do it without them.

“I’m always looking for more unwanted gifts to include in the tombola. I give my time for free, it’s purely voluntary.”

Gary, now 71, has been in hospital with high blood pressure after two heart attacks.

He said: “I had a stall at the last treacle market and people remembered me which is nice. It was good to be back and I’ll start a regular stall outside once the weather improves.”

Gary toured pubs and clubs with his Forge the Link trivia quiz, a game he said he dreamt up in his sleep.

He said: “That was going well until Covid hit and people stopped going to pubs. It was a way to donating money to various charities.

“The Hospice struck me as a charity that affects everyone in some way. It doesn’t matter what walk of life you come from; they look after everyone.

“I thought this is a worthwhile charity and decided it was the one I wanted to concentrate the tombola on.

“A friend of mine passed away last year and spent his last two weeks there.”

* To donate contact Gary on 07776 181028 or gazhenshaw@hotmail.com

Could you take over as musical director of Claritas, the East Cheshire Hospice choir?

The search is on to find a replacement for Kath Ibbotson, who hangs up her baton after a musical coffee morning at United Reformed Church on Saturday, March 23 (10-12).

Anyone interested should email claritassecretary@gmail.com with the deadline for applications at the end of this month.

Committee member Marian Mackay said: “We’re looking for an enthusiastic and imaginative MD able to balance fun and professionalism to take the choir forward and continue Kath’s good work.

Kath Ibbotson who is preparing for her final concert.

“If you have a love of music, time to devote to the choir and a wish to support the work of Hospice we’d love to hear from you.

“It’s a specialist role. Not only does the MD have to be a musician, but they also need leadership skills, personality and a well-developed sense of humour.

“Claritas welcomes singers of mixed abilities with the aim of having fun and raising money. The choir has an accompanist and the new MD will need to conduct rehearsals and performances without the accompanist occasionally.”

A fee can be paid for weekly rehearsals and concerts.  The post starts in April.

Claritas choir which is looking for a new musical director.

Rehearsals are at the Silklife Centre on Monday evenings during term time, though this is flexible.

The choir (www.claritaschoir.com) has around 45 members and organises three big fundraising concerts a year, with two at Christmas. The group also sing at other community events. New members should contact the same email address.

Making trees is a growing business for talented sculptor Christopher Townsend.

His artwork is proudly on display in the gardens at East Cheshire Hospice and around the country.

The Hospice commissioned him to make a metal Memory Tree as a focal point for families and friends to remember lost loved ones.

It is proving popular, with dozens of supporters buying leaves dedicated to someone special since the tree was unveiled in October.

Another 25 subscribers are now having leaves installed.

Christopher said: “I’ve made all different kinds of sculptures over the years, but the tree appears to be the thing that has really taken off, in particular memorial trees.

Sculptor Christopher Townsend who made the East Cheshire Hospice tree.

“I’ve delivered and installed trees to charities, hospitals, crematoriums, schools and other organisations.

“I’m pleased that the East Cheshire Hospice memorial is attracting so much interest. The design is based on a theme, but it’s a one-off because of its large size.

“It took a long time to make and all the branches were hand-bent cold and then assembled and welded together.

“I’m not a blacksmith, I’m an artist using metal as a medium. The ends of each branch had to be beaten and then drilled. There are between 400 and 500 branch ends and each required physical effort, rather than using a machine or heat treatment.

“No wonder my limbs are almost falling off at the age of 50 as I’ve been doing it for 15 years!”

The Memory Tree is in a discreet peaceful setting and easily accessible without entering the Hospice building.

The Hospice is hoping more supporters will join the scheme. A subscription is £10 a month, or £120 a year.

Hospice Family and Friends Fundraising Co-ordinator Amy Williams with the Memory Tree.

A total of 400 leaves are available with the name of a loved one engraved along with a message if desired. The tree was gifted by AstraZeneca employees.

Christopher, based in Oxfordshire, said: “Whenever I deliver a tree, people usually send me pictures six months, or a year down the line, telling me how many leaves are on it and how it’s been received.

“Sculpting started as a hobby, but it’s now my work and with a family, mortgage and responsibilities it has to be commercially viable.”

* To sign up to the Memory Tree visit www.eastcheshirehospice.org.uk/memory-tree.

For queries, contact amy.williams@echospice.org.uk or call 01625 665688. To visit Christopher’s website go to www.lovethetree.com.