A RESCUE package to save Romsey’s cancer support centre from closure is gathering speed.

Bosses at the newly-formed charity, Romsey Cancer Support Centre, now have premises to run a shop which will help fund Jane Scarth House.

The popular centre is due to shut for a short time from the end of October when Wessex Cancer Trust pulls the plug on the facility it has managed for the last 12 years.

The new charity’s chairman Mike Gratton, who revealed last month that the befriending centre which first opened in 1995, had been saved, said: “We are now all set to open a new charity shop on December 1 which will be called Jane’s. All the profits will be going into Romsey Cancer Support Centre – Jane Scarth House.”

Jane’s will be based in Peppercorn Natural Foods premises in Latimer Street.

The owners of the shop Pauline Baker and Moya Macklin are retiring shortly and the business will close. Mr Gratton said: “We would love to receive donations of goods to sell in the new shop for the Christmas period and beyond and we will arrange for drop off and collections.

“We are particularly looking for Christmas things also unwanted jewellery and old cameras. The sooner we get the goods the better.”

He said the were also looking for shop fittings such as rails and shelving.

“Jane’s will be our charity shop and it’s another bit of the jigsaw of our plans coming together. The building has come up at the right time and we are renting it,” said Mr Gratton.

Jane Scarth House in The Hundred will become vacant at the end of the October and the new charity hope to move within a couple of weeks of Wessex Cancer Trust’s departure.

“We are currently looking for a short-term alternative building until we reopen Jane Scarth House. We are most anxious that the facilities are continued in the short-term,” said Mr Gratton Staff at Jane Scarth House,which costs around £60,000 a year to run, will be retained by the new management.

“We are taking on all the current staff including the counsellors and therapists. They have the expertise and we are delighted that they are joining us,” said Mr Gratton.

He claimed the new charity was well on its way to securing the long-term future of Jane Scarth House and the vital services it provides to people with cancer and their families.

Wessex Cancer announced it was closing Jane Scarth House in July to concentrate on services in larger towns and cities – forcing clients of the popular centre to travel to Southampton, Winchester and further afield for help and advice.

Its charity shop Daisies, also in The Hundred, was closed shortly after the announcement was made. Jane Scarth’s daughter, Stacey Sherman told the Advertiser: “This is lovely news. My mum was a beautiful lady and fantastic mother who myself and my family miss so much. So to see her name still being used for such a worthy cause is an honour to her memory.”

Anyone who would like to donate items to Jane’s charity shop is asked to contact Sue James on 07836202022.

Peppercorn hope

 Pauline and Moya who are still trying to find a buyer for the Peppercorn business said they very much welcomed the news that their premises, which has been sold, is to be rented out to the newly formed charity.

“We are very happy it’s going to this particular charity and that it is going to be called Jane’s. We’ve helped a lot of people over the years and we hope Jane’s does too,” they said.

The pair, both in their seventies, plan to take life easier when the Latimer Street shop closes on November 28 after serving the town for 37 years.

Anyone interested in taking on the thriving business at another premises can contact Pauline or Moya for more information on 01794 513499.