Town rallied to see charity through a tough year. It is getting harder than ever to fund-raise, annual meeting hears.

The past 12 months have represented a “tough year” for Hospiscare, the charity’s Honiton Support Group heard at its annual meeting last week.

Ever tightening purse strings meant it was getting harder than ever to raise money.

At the end of the financial year, Hospiscare was “just in the black”.

That is what the charity’s representative, Barry Carpenter, told supporters.

However, he pointed out, services had been extended during the period and Hospiscare’s lottery was “doing well”. It has raised more than �300,000 since being launched by Judi Spiers at Devon County Show 11 years ago.

Honiton’s sterling efforts had resulted in �31,750 being raised over the year.

Eric Smith, the support group’s treasurer, presented Mr Carpenter with a further cheque for �4,000 - cash raised in Honiton since the beginning of April.

Mr Carpenter said: “On behalf of the patients and their families, who will benefit from this, I would like to say we are very grateful.”

Eileen Rooke, the support group’s chairman, remembered committee members and volunteers, past and present, during her annual report.

“We do remember them,” she said. “They are so important to our present committee.”

She thanked the volunteers - and their husbands - for their invaluable efforts.

“Thank you to everyone who cares about Hospiscare,” said Mrs Rooke. “You know what our nurses do, along with our drivers and sitters in this area.”

The committee was re-elected en-bloc.

Trevor Bolshaw, the outstanding honorary president of the support group, has stood down from the role.

Mr Carpenter said he wanted it to be a matter of public record that the charity thanked Mr Bolshaw for his sterling efforts.

Guest speaker at the annual meeting was retired nurse Sue Gibson, who is staunch supporter of Hospiscare in Honiton.

She spoke about her recent voluntary work overseas for the New Frontiers Church.