Double cause for celebration

WOODEN Spoon London celebrated donating a specialist wheelchair to one of the capital’s “murderball” teams by raising enough funds to secure a second chair for the London Wheelchair Rugby Club.

The newly-formed region presented London Wheelchair Rugby Club with the first chair during its summer street party at The Churchill Arms in Kensington.

Located in Kensington, the pub, its patrons and then-landlord Gerry O’Brien played a significant role in raising the £5,000 required to purchase the wheelchair and again proved warm and generous hosts.

Former England women’s captain Catherine Spencer officially handed over the chair to London Wheelchair Rugby Club Chairman Steve Palmer, who explained how murderball had given him a renewed purpose after suffering serious injury.

The event, which was attended by founding Wooden Spoon members Peter Scott, Steve Scott and Nigel Timson, featured a live Irish band, raffle and charity auction.

With prizes and lots including a magnum of Winston Churchill’s champagne of choice, Pol Roger, a signed Phil Vickery shirt and safari holiday in Kenya’s Masai Mara, the fundraising figure quickly hit the £5,000 necessary to purchase a second murderball chair.

Wooden Spoon London Chairman David Eck said: “The street party was a huge success and I’d like to offer special thanks to Matt Mitchell from the charity’s national office for being a superb MC and to Fuller’s Brewery for its support.

“With events now under our belt and projects being funded, it’s safe to say the London region is up and running and we are looking to expand our team of volunteers.”

Anyone interested in joining the London committee should contact David on 07976 287301.