by Uvedale Tristram
BARELY a year after founding Help the Hospices, the Duchess of Norfolk, co-chairman of the charity, has achieved a fundraising coup.
She has persuaded Torvill and Dean, the world ice skating champions to stage a Royal Gala performance on July 23 at Wembley Arena. The Princess of Wales has accepted an invitation to attend. The skating stars will lead their world tour company in a series of new routines.
Help the Hospices was founded in May 1984 as a charitable trust and national hospice body. The main initiative came from the Duchess after her involvement in a successful appeal for a new training unit at St Joseph's Hospice in East London.