AMBITIOUS visions for a purpose built palliative care centre, caring for people suffering incurable illnesses, is closer to becoming a reality. Palliative Care East has received yet another massive boost with Bacton-based company Tullow Oil donating £10,000 to the fund which aims to build a centre in the grounds of the James Paget University Hospital.

AMBITIOUS visions for a purpose built palliative care centre, caring for people suffering incurable illnesses, is closer to becoming a reality.

Palliative Care East has received yet another massive boost with Bacton-based company Tullow Oil donating £10,000 to the fund which aims to build a centre in the grounds of the James Paget University Hospital.

Last week the Mercury revealed the charity had smashed the £800,000 mark - meaning organisers have secured more than half the funding needed for the £1.5m project which will serve patients in they Yarmouth and Waveney area.

Hospital trust chairman John Hemming is pictured with Alan Marshall, the company's UK operations manager at Bacton.

And there's no shortage of fundraising events in the run up to Christmas with tickets still available for a Christmas Luncheon at the Cliff Hotel, Gorleston. Tickets are £25 and are available by calling 01493 453348.

Meanwhile, members of the palliative care team at the James Paget have been working with bereavement counsellors from Yarmouth and Waveney Mind to form a bereavement group.

The service is available to people in the Yarmouth and Waveney area and offers support to people who have experienced bereavement. Professional input, when available, will be provided by hospital bereavement counsellors for a short one-to-one session at the regular group meeting if needed.

The group will meet on the first and third Wednesday each month at the Cobholm & Lichfield Resource Centre, Yarmouth.

For more details on the service call Christine, Janis or Michele at Mind on 01493 842129 or email bully@gywmind.org.uk or janis@gywmind.org.uk.

To make a donation visit www.palliative-care-east.org.uk. Cheques made payable to Palliative Care East can be sent to Palliative Care East, Fundraising Office, James Paget University Hospital, Gorleston, NR31 6LA. To find out more about the appeal and how you can help, contact appeal co-ordinator Jenny Westgate on 01493 847961.

Recent donations are as follows: Asda, Lowestoft £5,000; Northern Villages Fundraising Team £360; Caister Ladies Group £31; St Nicholas Church, Bradwell £30; Audery Fearnly in memory of Kathleen Nicker £30; Barclays Bank £13,679.38; Kirkley and Pakefield Football Club £50; Diagoo Foundation £100; John Holmes £4; Corton Methodist Toddler Playgroup £97.50; Mrs L D Bartley £41; CSS open day appeal £2,000; B Darwent in memory of Mrs D Howard £75; St Andrews Roman Hill Church, Lowestoft £77; Brundish & Son in memory of Philip O J Goode £195; Ridgeons Football League £100. Mrs M Doe £15; GYL Sports Department £60.27; Anglia Co-op Funerals £429; Mr and Mrs L Pickles in memory of Linda Masterson £2,064; V and R Larner in memory of Chrissie Cole £50; Gardline Shipping in memory of George Darling £30,000; A Jary & Sons in memory of Kathleen Nicker £100; Masonic Friendship Chapter No 100 £100; Mr R Ardley in memory of Dorothy Ardley £100; Critoph & Crowe in memory of Faith Thompson £730; anonymous £16,400; Mr and Mrs Southernwood £10; V Balls and R Thompson £540; A Jary & Sons in memory of Jacqueline Chalmers £285; Northern Villages fundraising team £153.21; Mr and Mrs Nettleship £125; Mr G Hanton £10; Haven Rotary Club of Great Yarmouth £9,500; Moonlight walk £4,320; Mrs J Rowland £5; Mrs J E Keen £155; Pakefield Wives Club £250; Mr Ulph £20; R Youngs - the family of Pearl Noble £100; Mrs Bowler £20; St Fursey Rose Croix £250; Anglia Boiler Maintenance £86.50; J H Bunn ltd £2,000; Winterton Methodist Church £40.50; Brundish & Son in memory of Daphne Howard £710; Mrs M C Hanwell £10; Mr and Mrs P Tovell in memory of Mr G Nicholls £50; Waveney District Council /Lowestoft Journal £775.86; The Paul Cole Cancer Fund £20,000; Mr & Mrs A Green £10; Mr Welch £80; Stock Exchange Veterans in memory of Michael Harvey £300; Mr T Mutton £25; Tullow Oil £10,000.