HASLEMERE hero Roger Macdivitt, one of six volunteers presented with a community hero award at the annual town meeting, is busy promoting wellbeing in the town.

Mr Macdivitt joined forces with Haslemere Rotary in September 2018 to try to ensure others do not have to suffer the impact of sudden serious diagnosis, after losing his wife to a gynaecological cancer which had shown no early indicators.

Having seen the success of a Prostate Awareness Roadshow held earlier last year in Guildford, he vowed to give local men aged over 45 years a chance to find out if they showed early signs of prostate cancer.

A simple blood test now has a reasonable chance of indicating this cancer at a stage where treatment stands a very good chance of a cure. Currently 47,000 men are diagnosed annually, of which 11,000 die.

The Rotary Club of Haslemere offered its assistance in laying on a similar roadshow offering PSA tests at The Georgian Hotel.

Following the success of last year’s roadshow, Roger is teaming up with The Rotary again to offer PSA testing and prostate cancer awareness at The Georgian Hotel on Saturday, March 30 from 10am to 4pm.

Once again, the hotel has donated a meeting space for the roadshow.

North Surrey (Woking) Prostate Support Group will provide professional phlebotomists to carry out the standard blood test. A small donation is requested as private laboratories are used. Call 01428 661356 to pre-book a slot. Walk-in on the day is welcomed but it may involve a wait.

* Pulling out all the stops in his fundraising efforts, Roger has persuaded international opera singer Dame Ann Murray to perform at a spring charity concert he has organised at Charterhouse Memorial Chapel on Thursday, April 11.

The concert is in aid of two cancer charities - GRACE and Topic of Cancer – and starts at 7.30pm.

Many of those taking part, or family members, have been impacted directly. Roger Macdivitt has both a granddaughter and a daughter singing.

Grace is dedicated to gynaecological research and Topic of Cancer is dedicated to cancer immunotherapy research

Mezzo-soprano Dame Ann Murray, accompanied by pianist Terence Allbright, will be singing some pieces from Handel’s Messiah, Irish folk songs and songs by Cole Porter. Fellow mezzo-soprano Sophie Bosley, soprano Charlotte Brown and tenor Martin Enger Holm will also sing solos.

Award-winning violinist Ishani Bhoola will perform and singer Philip O’Brien will take to the stage with some of his Haslemere students.

TV star Anna Carteret will give readings and two choirs will sing – The Midhurst Community Choir and The Royal Surrey Choir, which is attached to the hospital.

Tickets, priced £16, are available now by calling 01428 661356 or visiting thelittleboxoffice.com.