A special performance of “That’ll Be The Day” featuring music from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s at New Wimbledon Theatre on Saturday 18 June raised over £5,000 for St Raphael’s Hospice in Cheam, Surrey (www.straphaels.org.uk). Although the Hospice is in Cheam, it treats terminally ill patients from the Wimbledon area throughout the Borough of Merton and the Borough of Sutton.

Over 900 people attended the production including the Mayor of Merton, Councillor Gilli Lewis-Lavender and the Mayor’s Consort, Brian Lewis-Lavender.

Keith Witham, Director of Fundraising, St Raphael’s Hospice, said “The evening was a great success and we are grateful to everyone who attended the show. The Hospice supports some 900 patients and families every year and all the services are entirely free. It costs £4 million a year to run the Hospice and £3 million a year relies on charity fundraising.”

To raise much needed funds, St Raphael’s Hospice will be holding an Open Air Picnic in Nonsuch Park, Cheam, with the Bee Gees Tribute Band on Thursday 7 July. For more details, visit www.straphaels.org.uk “That’ll Be The Day” included tributes to Cliff Richard, Elvis Presley, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and The Blues Brothers.

The evening was sponsored by Robert Holmes Estate Agents, The Peter Beckwith Charitable Trust, Merton Arts and The Wimbledon Village Business Association.

Based on information supplied by Jackie Mitchell.