Memorial fund passes£100,000 in eight years

Martin and Jackie Finch donated the latest 20,000 from the Martin Finch Memorial Fund to Meningitis UK.

The charity's Steve and Gloria Dayman received the cheque.

It was the latest donation from the fund since it began work in June 2000.

Mr Finch said he and his wife wanted to thank everyone who had supported and sponsored the fund's events.

They set up the fund in memory of their 14-year-old son Martin who died from meningitis in 1999.

The fund has staged a series of events to bring in donations to help to find a cure for the fatal condition.

The most recent of those occasions, at which the milestone cheque was presented, was a 007 themed ball at the Hilton Avisford Park Hotel at Walberton.

This was the seventh ball to raise money for the fund to support research into a vaccine for meningitis and septicaemia.

Many of the 225 guests have attended the event every year.

A Shirley Bassey tribute singer entertained the audience to many Bond movie songs.

Local variety entertainer Pip Frederick once again guided proceedings to extract as much money as painlessly as possible from those present.

City Connection kept the dance floor full until the early hours.

The casino created yet another fitting aspect to the evening.

An auction and a raffle contributed to raising the 7,300 profit from the event.