Winton Players has a long history of helping charities close to home – and this year is no exception. In the year that the group celebrates its 60th anniversary as one of the south's leading drama societies, vice-chairman John Mill and publicity officer Eileen Riddiford presented cheques to Macmillan Cancer Support, Midhurst, which was represented by Michelle Butler, and to Friends of Petersfield Hospital, represented by Peter Norris. The presentations took place at The Petersfield Hospital, when each charity received £300. The money for Petersfield Hospital will go directly towards the building of the new chapel in the hospital, where work has already started. It will provide a calm and peaceful place of comfort for people visiting friends and family at the Street Swan hospital. Macmillan Cancer Support, Midhurst, has just begun a £3m appeal for its Community Palliative Care Service, which provides care and support at home or in the community for more than 200 people with cancer, their families, and carers. Chairman Gerry Elmer said "We are delighted to be able to support these two worthwhile charities, as a direct result of the popular success we enjoy with our productions. "We can only help charities such as these because of the fantastic support Winton Players receives within the community each year. We hope we can go on doing so for another 60 years." The group has an exciting and varied programme in their anniversary year. It began with popular pantomime Dick Whittington in January, and this will be followed by a performance of The Turn of the Screw – a chilling and ghostly tale from writer Henry James. The autumn will see the group return on a lighter note with a fast-and-furious farce called Don't Dress for Dinner. Tickets for The Turn of the Screw are on sale at the tourist information centre, in The Square, Petersfield, or by calling Kay Peters on 01730 263812. Performances of The Turn of the Screw will be on April 19, April 20 and April 21, at 7.30pm.
