Health/hospitals

Bupa care home residents in Surrey are appealing for local bagpipe players to help them pipe in the haggis at parties to mark Scottish poet Robbie Burns' Birthday.

Every year on 25 January people commemorate the life of one of Scotland's most famous sons with a Burns Supper of Haggis, neeps and tatties. However, with pipers in such short supply many Surrey care homes have been forced to hold their celebrations during the day and throughout the week.

The latest figures have been released by Woking Hospice and Sam Beare Hospice, Weybridge for its appeal to save the day centre services from being closed.

Currently, Woking Hospice has raised £169,000 for the appeal and Sam Beare Hospice, Weybridge has raised £80,000.

Both Hospices need £300,000 by the end of December if they are to have a chance of keeping the services open.

To donate money to save the hospices, visit

A healthy walk is being held on Sunday, November 22, around Weybridge and Brooklands.

Starting at 10.30am, meeting at the car park in Churchfield Road, the walk will last an hour and a half, with stops every half an hour.

Any child under 14 must be accompanied by an adult and no dogs are permitted.

Residents are urged to wear suitable clothing and footwear and to bring drinking water.

The new reception area for Weybridge hospital was opened by the Mayor of Elmbridge, Councillor James Vickers on Wednesday, September 22.

The Friends of Weybridge Hospital organised the launch after helping to raise funds for the new reception and waiting room at the hospital, in Church Street.

Patients and staff gave their input for the design of the new area, such as where to situate the front desk and different colour schemes.

A replacement waiting room was set up while the new area was being built.

A ceramics cafe in Weybridge is holding a pink themed pottery evening to help raise money for breast cancer awareness.

Starting at 6.30pm on Saturday, August 1, at the Happy Potter cafe in Hamm Moor Lane, ladies are asked to support Breast Cancer Research UK by attending the evening dressed in pink.

Pink refreshments such as wine, pink lemonade and Pimms will be available as well as a charity raffle and the opportunity for women to make imprints of their breasts onto chosen pieces of pottery.

Tickets cost £20, and anyone wishing to attend must be 18 or over. For more information visit www.happypotterceramics.co.uk

Herbal Awareness Week ran from Saturday June 20 until Saturday June 27, which included the summer solstice Reporter Vicki Eltis stepped out with a group of walkers to learn all about the medicinal benefits of plants found in the Surrey countryside.

Dandelion leaf sandwiches to reduce high blood pressure, nettle tea good for combating hayfever and how a rose can attract a new lover were just some of the herb tales I found out about during a herbal walk I embarked on with a Weybridge herbalist.

Forgetting about the paracetamol I had taken to cure my slight hangover on the Sunday morning I ventured out to Newlands Corner, just off the A3 at Riple, to find out what kind of herbs could help with all sorts of common day problems.

Residents in the borough are encouraged to get on their bicycles for National Bike Week from Saturday June 13 to Sunday June 21.

Elmbridge Cycle Group is organising the first of many Explore Elmbridge cycle rides on Thursday June 18 at 6:30pm and will be no longer than two hours.

A FUN day is being held at Portmore Dental Practice in Balfour Road, Weybrideg, on Bank Holiday Monday May 25 from 12pm to 3pm.

There will be bouncy castles, a raffle and many stalls in the carpark to raise money for The Stephanie Marks Appeal.

Hi, I'm reporter Vicki Eltis and I'm currently on a mission to get in shape with help from personal trainer Simon Cook (who counts among his clients the Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty).

So far Simon, who set up F.I.T gym in Church Street, Weybridge, taught me all about my 'stiff gluteus maximus muscle', which makes up the shape and appearance of my bottom, and how to unstiffen it with a cricket ball... yes a cricket ball!

The Friends of Weybridge Hospital Christmas raffle was drawn on December 22 and Dave Fisher was the worthy winner.

He is pictured here (right) receiving a luxury Christmas Hamper with (left) Dorothy Price, longstanding committee member, and chairman David Ryland.