Anita Dobson joins Thames Hospice to open 'stunning' Maidenhead Homestore

TV star Anita Dobson joined Thames Hospice staff to celebrate the grand opening of the charity’s new Maidenhead Homestore this week.

The Eastenders legend cut the ribbon to the new shop, which has moved to a bigger location in Boyn Valley Road after five years in Reform Road.

Thames Hospice is a charity and needs to fundraise around £12 million a year to stay open and keep providing important end-of-life care for people in the Maidenhead area.

Its retail department raises about £6 million a year and it is hoped the new store will make a big difference to fundraising going forward.

Julie Rowley, director of retail at Thames Hospice, said she was ‘delighted that so many friends from our community joined us’ for the opening.

More community figures at the opening included Royal Borough deputy mayor Mandy Brar.

Ms Rowley continued: “Our new store is almost double in size, and our wonderful team of staff and volunteers have worked hard over the last few weeks to ensure it’s looking stunning and well-stocked for the opening and the Christmas season.”

“The Maidenhead community has been so supportive during the last five years, and we are confident that we shall continue to play a key role as a local employer as well as creating a large variety of volunteer opportunities.

“The space will allow us to have an even greater range of preloved and upcycled furniture and homeware, together with more parking spaces. “The Homestore also has a children’s zone with preloved books, games and toys as well as a small café bar offering tea, coffee and cakes.”

Thames Hospice has more than 20 shops – including a new Superstore in Reading. Its largest ever shop.

And behind the scenes is a vital team of volunteers and fundraisers, often making enormous contributions to help the charity.

One of Thames Hospice’s volunteers present at the opening, Grahame from Maidenhead, said: “I’ve been volunteering with Thames Hospice for two years and know how worthwhile the work they do is.

“It’s an amazing, hard-working team who make all of us volunteers feel so welcome and looked-after.

“The new store is looking particularly festive and is such a treasure trove of furniture and everything you could think you might need of at home.

“I would urge everyone to come along and have a browse.”

Thames Hospice’s new Maidenhead Homestore is located in Boyn Valley Industrial Estate, Boyn Valley Road, SL6 4EJ.

Anita Dobson (R) with new Thames Hospice chief executive officer Dr Rachael de Caux.