Category: Community

The memory of Macclesfield Parish FC stalwart Col Smith lives on through an annual football match. Two teams he managed and played for – Parish FC and St Peter’s which are part of the same club – met in a friendly match at the Moss Rose. Parish FC came out on top 3-2, with a £320 donation made to East Cheshire Hospice from a collection.

Col, of Higher Hurdsfield, died of cancer in March last year, aged 52.

Col Smith, who was a patient at East Cheshire Hospice.

He fought illness for 10 years but still remained involved in the club, part of the South Manchester and Cheshire Christian Football League. Col was a team leader at McDonald’s and a member of Bollington Life Church.

Parish FC manager David Mayers said: “We want to contribute towards society and not just play football. “The Hospice is a wonderful charity and they did a great job of looking after Col who was a real Christian man and passionate about his football.

“He inspired so many through his friendship, love for the game and deep Christian faith and is missed terribly.”

David Mayers (left) and Ryan Cawley from Macclesfield Parish FC with Hospice Community Fundraiser Carley Macey.

The final delivery made by postman Robin Emery before retirement was a giant cheque for East Cheshire Hospice. The donation of more than £2,000 was his kind parting gift to the charity after 28 years on his  rounds in Macclesfield where he was a familiar face.

Robin’s final patch for the last eight years of his career was Gawsworth where he even held a farewell party to thank villagers for their friendship and support. Robin, of Hurdsfield, said: “For me the last eight years were probably the most enjoyable. Delivering in Gawsworth was a match made in heaven. The villagers and I just gelled, so it was almost a pleasure to go to work every day.

Robin Emery outside Gawsworth community shop with East Cheshire Hospice fundraiser Claire Gorton (far right) and villagers Elsa West and Russell Burgess.

“I hosted a party with more than 150 invited guests and was overwhelmed with the support I was given.

“It wasn’t my first choice of career. I joined thinking it was a stop gap and I’d be there for six months and then some 28 years later I was still there!”

Party guests were invited to make a donation to the Hospice instead of retirement presents. Gawsworth villagers had earlier raised about £1,400 when Robin sportingly turned up for work in fancy dress as part of a charity initiative among postal colleagues.  Robin is still making plans for his retirement, but it will include more golf at Macclesfield Golf Club where he is a member.

Waving farewell…Robin Emery who has retired after 28 years as a postman. Picture courtesy of Paul Woods.

He said: “I was 66 in August and it’s nice to have a lie-in after all those early mornings of getting up at 4.30 am and being in the sorting office at Jordangate at 5.30 am. I’d then walk nine or 10 miles a day on delivery.

“I felt it was the right time to call it a day, although I’ll miss the day-to-day contact with work colleagues and the village, but otherwise I’ve no regrets about retiring.

“I have no personal connection with the Hospice, but everyone around Macclesfield and the wider community really appreciates it.

“It’s based in Macclesfield and everyone has heard of it and knows what a fantastic job they do, so I wanted to put any funds raised towards the Hospice.”

Judy Kelly was a proud grandma when Milly and Eve Farrer set up a cake stall outside her home. The girls raised £217 for East Cheshire Hospice where Judy has been a volunteer for almost 21 years.

Eve (left) and Milly present a cheque to Hospice community fundraiser Carley Macey.

Her granddaughters were on a week-long visit from their Birmingham home during the school holidays when they decided to help the Hospice.

Milly (10) baked cakes, while 14-year-old Eve organised a raffle with 20 prizes which raised £73 towards the total.

Judy said: “Milly loves cooking and has her own recipe book of cakes she makes.  Friends and neighbours were so generous and kept coming forward with raffle prizes.

Milly (left) and Eve at the cake stall outside their grandma’s home.

“We were amazed by the success of the afternoon and the girls were so pleased. It was a bit worrying because Milly had made a lot of cakes and I thought what if no-one comes, but we sold them all in two hours.

“Milly had posted flyers and the next day wrote thank you notes to all friends and neighbours who had supported them.”

Judy is soon hoping to return to her long-serving voluntary role on the Hospice reception. Covid-19 also prevented her and fellow volunteers from helping display flowers on the ward, a role she has done for 10 years.

She said: “Not being able to volunteer has been awful and I’ve hated it. During that time I have, though, been fundraising by painting greetings cards and selling them to friends, donating the proceeds to the Hospice.”

It is not too late to enjoy a traditional afternoon tea in the beautiful surroundings of Adlington Hall. Volunteers from East Cheshire Hospice are providing hot drinks and homemade cakes between 2 pm and 5 pm each Sunday during August.

All proceeds are donated to the charity which accepted an invitation from Adlington Hall to use its traditional tearoom in the main building to raise funds. Guests do not need to book teas and if they want can also pay to stroll through the hall and picturesque gardens at one of England’s finest country homes.

The 2,000-acre estate has been the ancestral home of the Legh family for more than seven centuries and Camilla Legh is a Hospice vice president. The Hospice, which also has a stall selling handmade goods, is holding its memory walk at Adlington Hall on March 25 next year. The first afternoon tea attracted around 50 guests and raised £306 for the Hospice.

From left, volunteers Jane Wilson, Angela Raval and Susan Cleary at Adlington Hall.

Community Fundraiser Carley Macey said: “We’re really excited to be back out in the community raising vital funds for the care we provide. “It’s been a difficult year, as it has been for many people, and the fantastic support from our community has got us though. “We want to thank Adlington Hall for inviting us to use their tearoom which enables us to spread awareness about our services. “We hope everyone who attends enjoys the amazing homemade cakes lovingly made by our volunteers and want to thank guests for supporting your local hospice.”

For more information visit www.adlingtonhall.com/visit-us  Adlington Hall houses The Great Organ, arguably one of the country’s most important 17th century musical instruments.

The Hospice’s Macclesfield support group held a coffee morning at Gawsworth Methodist Church.

Meanwhile, the Hospice is on the lookout for community volunteers for a number of roles, including joining a support group.

Carley said: “We’re always looking for volunteers to help with community fundraising and we have support groups across our catchment area. “These are sociable welcoming groups  and we also have other roles such as volunteer cake bakers, collection box monitors and community event volunteers for things like event and market stalls.”

For more details email fundraising@echospice.org.uk or visit www.eastcheshirehospice.org.uk/support/volunteer-with-us/