Bell hotel fun day for hospice

A fun day for all the family was held at the Bell Hotel in Bexhill's Old Town which featured an impressively smoking barbecue, bouncy castle, face painting, and all manner of ways in which anyone of any age could enjoy themselves on Saturday.

The fundraiser started at midday and was set to go through to midnight according to organiser Natalie Corke, who put the event together with the help of manager Rick Cowlard and Councillor Charlie Clark.

Natalie said: "We have done this before to raise money for the lifeboats, so we thought this year we would change the charity. St Michael's Hospice was the one - a few of us have lost people at the hospice, and it is a local charity that struggles for funds. It costs them 30,000 a week to run the hospice, so whatever we can do is good - to have a fun day and raise money for them at the same time. It is nice to put your time into helping other people and it doesn't cost anything."

A tombola and raffle were also held, as was an unusual attraction called Bash The Boxer, in which visitors paid 1 for the opportunity to have a pop at one of the boxers from Southlands Boxing Club, which trains on the premises.

Natalie thanked members of the boxing club, as well as White's Brewery Company which had provided ale for the occasion, and local businesses such as Fruitique, and Cash And Carry which donated 80 burgers.

She said: "People have been very kind - and the regulars here have contributed towards having the barrel outside - it has been great."

Rotten weather in the afternoon meant all activities had to be taken indoors, but nevertheless Natalie was pleased with the finish total of 620.

"It's not too bad," she said afterwards as she recovered from her long and demanding day.

"Obviously it poured down with rain so we had to move everybody inside, but it did go very well, and the band - Steaming Angels - were very amusing and fun. Wendy Goulden spent hours on the barbecue, and I'd also like to thank Al, Cheryl and Amy."