Media Release

Embargo:   20^th May 2005    

Date:          17^th May 2005

Celebrating the opening of the Pavilion

After more than two years of fundraising, which saw thousands of pounds donated from many hundreds of people and businesses across Wokingham, the Pavilion building at Wokingham Community Hospital was opened today by Uri Geller and Wokingham PCT Chairman Dr Alan Penn.

Alan Penn thanked everyone who had contributed to the Pavilion Appeal, highlighting the three main sponsors Nirvana Spa, Uri Geller and Sand Martins Golf Club.  He also thanked the many people who had helped with the fundraising appeal which was launched on Valentine’s Day 2003.  He said it was a community event from start to finish with Young Rotarians digging up the garden last weekend and plants donated and put in the garden only this week by Rob Scott from the Hare Hatch Nursery Ltd – Royal Horticultural Society Gold Medal winners based in Twyford.

Alan Penn said “Without the support from the community, from our staff, from local businesses and from our major donors we would never be standing in these wonderful surroundings today.  It has been a mammoth task but the local people of Wokingham have been so generous with their time and their money.  We now have the Pavilion as an area for refreshment and relaxation – for patients, visitors and staff to use. “

“Thank you to Nicholas Meletiou the architect of the project – luckily Uri Geller was sitting next to him during a plane journey and he very generously agreed to oversee the Pavilion project.    Thank you to the Wokingham Times, in particular Sandy Bandy, for all their support during the Appeal.  A big thank you of course to Nirvana Spa who is donating a total of £25,000 and to the Sand Martin’s Golf Club who donated £15,800 and to our Patron Uri Geller who has ensured we had a high profile and also kindly donated £10,000 to the Appeal.”

“This Appeal seems to have caught the imagination of so many local people – I like to think it is because the community hospital has a special place in the hearts of the people of Wokingham.”

Finally, Alan Penn added that the fundraising was not quite over.  Nirvana Spa is leading the final push with an online auction which they hope will raise over £8,000.  Tim Harding, Chief Executive of Nirvana Spa said “We hope that local people will bid generously for the wonderful prizes available in our online auction.   We have raised a great deal of money already but there is still a little way to go.  Please can I urge everyone to check out our website and bid for the prizes …all money will go straight to the Pavilion Appeal fund and the closing date is 24^th June.” 

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Notes to editors:

In total the Pavilion Appeal has raised approximately £97,000 towards the £103,000 originally estimated.   This figure however does not include the cost of the blinds nor VAT and the PCT is hoping to raise further funds to cover these costs.