SALISBURY Hospital's charity has been given more than £11,000 by a rotary club. 

Once a month, Wilton Rotary Club host a special evening at the Mercure White Hart Hotel for their friends and a guest speaker. 

On Monday, November 4, there was an extra special reason to attend as it was time for the club to present a cheque to the Stars Appeal from some of the fundraising it has carried out over the summer.

Club President Andy Rhind-Tutt started the evening by reading out a message of thanks to Wilton Rotary Club from Lord Pembroke for all it does in the community and then announced that from the "Wilton Wake Up's" and the Club's annual Mammoth Car Boot Sale a cheque for £11,224.15 was to be presented to Dave Cates for the charity. 

In his response, a delighted Dave Cates explained that from the donations made from Wilton Rotary Club over many years it has been estimated that more than 1,000 local people have directly benefitted.

He also added that from the Club marshalling the Walk for Wards every year no less than £1.25m had been raised so far. 

A short video showed the guests some of the equipment now being purchased with some of the latest donation, such as "By Your Side" bed chairs and a very special Omi projector that projects dynamic images on any surface in response to gesture and movement. It is used in various settings to motivate, inspire and stimulate learning and recovery for the children's unit. 

Following Dave, there was a presentation from Stars Ambassador David Kunzer, who discussed his journey through shock diagnosis to successful treatment of bowel cancer and his gratitude to the work Wilton Rotary does to support local charities.

After a three-course dinner President Andy introduced guest speaker The Lord Lieutenant, Mrs Sarah Troughton, who gave a fascinating account of the Lieutenancy role throughout the centuries and her current role representing and supporting the Royal Family since being chosen in 2012.

Mrs Troughton brought many smiles from the audience when reflecting on her very first duty which was to accompany Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh on the Diamond Jubilee visit to Salisbury in May 2012: "Upon leaving the Amesbury marquee, Her Majesty placed her hand on the 13th century Sanctus bell from St Mary and St Melor church, paused and with a smile asked "does it still ding, or does it dong?!"  

The final words were given by Assistant Rotary District Governor Geoff Philpot of Andover Anton club.

The next club event will be giving mulled wine and children's treats at the switch on of the Wilton Christmas lights with Father Christmas on Friday, November 29.