Friends of Ross Hospital were delighted to receive a cheque for £212.50 following a raffle organised by the Phoenix Theatre Singers group.

On Wednesday January 26, Phoenix Theatre Singers director Mary Brigg and Lyn Smith who helped organise the raffle visited Ross Community Hospital on Alton Street to hand over the cheque to Friends of Ross Hospital Chair Jill Davies.

With the Phoenix Theatre back open to the public the Phoenix Singers group decided to hold a raffle at one of their concerts in December to raise money for the hospital and the Friends of Ross charity group.

Many local businesses including Red Hair Salon, Gingernut Café and Steve Bennett Garages kindly donated prizes including vouchers whilst other prizes including wine and chocolate were donated by local people as well as members of the Phoenix Singers group.

Due to the Covid pandemic, the Friends have been forced to cancel many of their fundraising events over the last two years. In the past, the group have regularly hosted coffee mornings at the hospital as well as annual Christmas concert from the Phoenix Theatre.

Speaking to the Gazette, Friends of Ross Hospital Chaor Jill Davies said: "We are very grateful to the Phoenix Theatre Singers for helping raise money for the charity and would also like to thank all the local businesses and people who contributed to the raffle. It has been a tough few years for the charity, so this money will make a massive difference to helping support the work we do."

The group are now hoping to return to normal fundraising events by hosting coffee mornings again, although given the uncertainty of the pandemic they are looking for alternative venues from the hospital to host events.

The Phoenix Theatre have hosted a number of concerts since reopening to the public in the last few months, with shows being generally well-received and supported.

The theatre group are also planning to host a concert celebrating 100 years since the Ross Operatic and Drama Society group was formed in 1921 with a special centenary concert that will include music from the last 100 years.