Hospice shop opens with dramatic event
TWO of Southport’s most loved charities came together to celebrate the official opening of Queenscourt Hospice’s newest retail outlet.
Staff and volunteers from Queenscourt were joined by representatives from the Little Theatre Southport and Southport Dramatic Club at the Bispham Road £2 discount shop for the ribbon cutting ceremony.
Cast members from Southport Dramatic Club’s forthcoming production of Curtain Up, to be staged at the Little Theatre, were given the honour of cutting the ribbon.
The cast, including a giant teddy bear, along with Queenie, Queenscourt’s mascot, helped celebrate the opening.
The new shop is at 88-90 Bispham Road and sells women’s and men’s clothes, shoes and accessories along with children’s clothes and shoes, and DVDS.
Everything is priced at £2.
Friday not only marked the official opening of the shop, but was also when the box office opened for Curtain Up, which will be staged from February 21 to 29.
The Bispham Road shop brings the number of Queenscourt retail outlets to seven, not including the gift shop in the reception area of the hospice.
The new shop is open from 9am until 4.30pm, Monday to Saturday. Call 01704 807577 with any queries.
Shop manager Neil Capel said: “We are delighted to have now officially opened our new store and would like to thank the Little Theatre Southport and the Southport Dramatic Club for all of their support.
“Our shops provide a vital stream of funding for Queenscourt, but we couldn’t operate them without our band of dedicated volunteers.
“We are always on the look-out for more people to join our retail team so if you have some time to spare and fancy getting involved, then please, get in touch.”
The director of Curtain Up, Lynne Hawksworth, said: “Southport Dramatic Club has a long and proud history in Southport and we really welcome the opportunity to support Queenscourt in this way, as the hospice makes such a positive difference in the local area.”
Anyone interested in volunteering at the shop can call on 01704 544645 or qcretail@queenscourt. org.uk. Find Queenscourt eBay at www.tinyurl.com/ queenscourtebay