St Peter's and St James Hospice get £700 boost

The money was raised by a raffle during the January run of the previous pantomime.

Sophie Davies, playing Maid Marion, presented the cheque with other cast members Stephanie Somerville and Dale Smith.

Rosalind Wood, chairman for the club, said: “The club is delighted once again to have been able to support the hospice in memory of our previous panto director, June Colledge.”

The club feared it might not have a venue for December’s panto run after Mid Sussex District Council decided to close the usual venue of the Martlets Hall to make way for redevelopment and made no provision for a replacement.

Burgess Hill Girls school offered its Croft Hall and the club’s ‘Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood’ pantomime will be staged in the run up to Christmas.

Mrs Wood said: “The audience is always very generous in supporting the raffle each year and we hope to give the hospice a generous donation from raffle ticket sales at the new venue at the school.

“Rehearsals are going very well and some performances are selling out already, so we are all looking forward to our December performances.”

Show times are: December 15, 2pm and 6.30pm; December 16, midday and 4.30pm; December 20, 7.30pm; December 21, 7.30pm and December 22, 2pm and 6.30pm.

Tickets are available on 01444 242984.