Pride and Prejudice dramatic reading raises over £2,400 for Hospice
Ethiopia
Mr Darcy helped a Norfolk-based charity raise nearly £2,500
for desperate patients in Ethiopia. Templewood,
the privately-owned Palladian-style shooting lodge near Cromer, was the venue
for a dramatic reading of Pride and Prejudice on July 27th 2025. The cast was a combination of professional
actors and amateurs, and the audience was treated to live classical music and a
cream tea as well as the drama.
Sue Mumford is chair of Hospice Ethiopia UK, the charity
based in Aldborough, North Norfolk. She
said, “What a fabulous venue Templewood is!
We are so grateful to the owners, Eddie and Tina Anderson, for letting
us use their beautiful home.”
This was the third annual Jane Austen event by Hospice
Ethiopia, the previous ones being held at Little Barningham Hall and Cromer
Hall, and it was another sell-out. Next
year the team hopes to take on Sense and Sensibility – with the venue yet to be
decided.
“The readings are a snapshot from a section of the books,”
Sue says. “Our script writer, Margy Seale,
delights in using the original language to create a truly authentic piece of
theatre. They really are great fun – and
it’s a brilliant cause.”
For more information on Hospice Ethiopia (and future Jane
Austen events) visit hospiceethiopia.org.uk.
More information:
Tim Morgan, The
Publicity Works – tim@publicityworks.biz / 01263 761000 / 07947 280137
Sue Mumford, Hospice
Ethiopia UK – info@hospiceethiopia.org.uk / 01263 768699
Editor’s Notes:
Hospice Ethiopia
Ethiopia has an estimated population of more than 127
million, but only one hospice. Many thousands of people there have
incurable diseases. They are dying in distress, often in severe pain, with
nowhere to turn and their only hope is Hospice Ethiopia. Hospice Ethiopia
provides free drugs, so that the dying have relief from pain, and medical care
to alleviate their worst symptoms. It gives support, so that patients can care
for themselves and, in many cases, their children. Even more important, Hospice
Ethiopia is training doctors, nurses and other medics about palliative care –
care for the dying – so that they can help the thousands more who need it,
across Ethiopia.
Hospice Ethiopia has no government funding, relying wholly
on donations. Hospice Ethiopia UK was set up to help raise the funds it needs –
around £70,000 per year. 100% of the money raised in the UK goes directly to
Hospice Ethiopia, so every penny makes a real difference.
Hospice Ethiopia and Norfolk
A group of health care professionals working
at Priscilla Bacon Lodge, Norwich, started supporting Hospice Ethiopia in 2011.
Originally this was more about education but inevitably fund raising became a
large part of what they do. In 2017 the
group became registered as a UK charity.
Trustees visit Hospice Ethiopia regularly (at least annually),
taking out small items of equipment that are unobtainable or expensive in
Ethiopia. While there, they visit patients with the nurses, offer formal and
informal training to a range of healthcare professionals, and network with
other non-governmental organisations, hospitals and the Ethiopian Ministry of
Health.