Highcliffe Charity Players donate £1,500
to worthy local causes
December 2011

Award-winning local amateur theatre group Highcliffe Charity Players have donated £1,500 to local causes - £500 jointly to Christchurch senior citizens and the Twynham School Innovation Project, £500 to Highcliffe Residents Association for their Old School building renovation work and £500 to Becky Kilford, for her forthcoming Macmillan Cancer Trust Charity Walk on The Great Wall of China.

The cheques were presented by HCP Chairman Georgina Smith who said: "Charity Players love performing, but we also get great satisfaction from being able to support local charities, and we are delighted that this year's donations benefit local people, young and old."

£500 was presented to Brenda Traylen MBE for the fifth year running, to help fund the fish and chip supper she organises for the less mobile in Christchurch every Christmas. "It's wonderful of HCP to continue to help us," said Brenda. "We take out 60 senior citizens who enjoy a meal, as many drinks as they like, and receive a bag of presents from Santa. For many, this is their first outing in months."

The donation was shared with Liz Perry of Twynham School for her Innovation Project. Explained Liz: "We regularly arrange challenging, fun days out for pupils who are in foster care. These outings raise their aspirations and make them feel more valued, which helps to improve their performance at school and their future prospects." Liz was accompanied by 17-year-old Shara Shillcock, who explained how the project had boosted her confidence and she was now at Bournemouth and Poole College studying Animal Care, and 14-year-old Amber Cole, who told how the outings had helped to make her life brighter and more worthwhile.

£500 was presented to John Mather (Chairman) and Vernon Lester (Treasurer) of Highcliffe Residents Association C.I.C. who are currently restoring the grade II listed Old School building in Lymington Road to retain Rainbow Pre-School and create a central community centre for Highliffe. Thanking HCP John said: "We have had to spend a little more than we first anticipated on renovating this 1860s building, but we hope that the whole of Highcliffe, young and old, will benefit. We will start some exciting new community activities shortly and hope to get younger people involved as well. Also, the Pre-School can now plan towards a solid future to teach the next generation."

£500 was presented to Becky Kilford, owner of The Galleon in Highcliffe and a former HCP member, who will be walking part of The Great Wall of China next September for Macmillan Cancer Support. "I am honoured and touched that Charity Players thought of me and my charity for a donation," she said. "Having lost both my Dad and Grandad to cancer, it was a charity I really felt I would like to contribute to. I will be walking up to eight hours a day, covering around 80km by the end of the nine day hike."

The presentations were made during a break in rehearsals for HCP's next pantomime - Red Riding Hood - which runs at the Regent Centre, Christchurch, over ten performances from 21st to 28th January 2012.

The Players will also be giving hundreds of pounds worth of free tickets for their panto to deserving local groups.

Lewis & Viv Torrington
- Honorary Members
March 2011




Lewis and Viv Torrington have been made Honorary Members of Highcliffe Charity Players.

They were also presented with a plaque engraved with their names to go on a seat at the Regent Centre (in the Charity Players' row), together with flowers and a bottle, at HCP'S AGM on March 22.

Said HCP Chairman Georgina: Smith; "Lewis and Viv are very special to the Players - they seem to have been in the Company forever. They are at every show, working behind the scenes, often without being made a huge fuss of and sometimes without even being asked. Somehow they are a part of us and I can't imagine putting on a show without them. So we would like them to accept these gifts with our love and thanks for everything they do."

Thanking the Players Lewis replied: "Viv and I have been with the Players since its first production in 1972. Although we both initially took part in performances, we 'retired' from the stage when the Company moved to the Regent Centre. Indeed, for many years now, I have never actually seen an HCP show as I've always been helping backstage!"

Charity Players now have ten Honorary Members who have given dedicated service to HCP over a number of years, of which Rosemary Barty, Ann Smith and Joan Stones are all founder members. Many still support the Company including sourcing and making props, selling programmes, prompting and helping with catering at summer revues.