Good Causes

Two Spelthorne residents have been given awards for giving more than 175 blood donations between them.

Susan Burgess, of Lammas Road, Staines, and Linda Bishop, of Queens Walk, Ashford, were given a crystal decanter for more than 100 donations and a a crystal plate for more than 75 respectively at a National Blood Service ceremony.

Staines' two shopping centres have joined forces to create to help address town centre issues.

Elmsleigh and Two Rivers have created the Staines Town Centre Retail Forum, so they can jointly host events, support charities, produce the promotional leaflets, and try and resolve issues.

The scheme also aims to work with Spelthorne Council.

Matthew Arnold School will be hosting a cabaret in February to raise money for Leukaemia Research the Forget Me Not Fund.

Students from the Sylvia Young Theatre School will be visiting on February 11 in memory of ex-pupil Matthew Lyne, who was 17 when he died of the disease last year.

It is believed one of the dancers was in High School Musical three.

Most people would have decided to turn back when their car slid over heavy snow, but one grandfather from Staines had a better idea.

Roger Harding, of Lark Avenue, was on the way to a Freemasons meeting in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, to talk about his favourite charities, when his car started to slide across the road.

A supermarket in Staines raised more than £3000 for a hospital in Middlesex over 2009.

Marks and Spencer, in Staines High Street, chose the Special Care Baby Unit in West Middlesex University Hospital in Isleworth, as their charity to raise money for in 2009, and over the year they came up with £3347.

A Staines shopping centre has raised nearly £6,000 for charity over the winter.

Elmseliegh Shopping Centre has been hosting a gift wrapping service with Barclays, and have raised £5,660 for charities including Shooting Star Children's Hospics, the RSPCA, the Mayor of Spelthorne's charities and Staines shopmobility.

Courses designed to teach people sign language are coming to Staines and Ashford in the New Year.

Oxfordshire based company Signs4Life are in the process of hiring deaf people to begin in-house training to schools, businesses, and shops, as they feel there are not enough people in the area who know the language.

The six week courses are designed to get people more aware about deaf and disabled people, and the company will be contacting schools in the borough to organise sign language in the curriculum.

Founder Fozia Parveen said: "You never know when you will come into contact with a customer, colleague, or member of the public who is deaf or disabled."

Drivers and shoppers looked on in surprise as 160 Santas sprinted through Staines town centre on Sunday December 6.

The second annual Santa Sprint was organised by Spelthorne Council, which saw the men, women, children, and old age pensioners run for two miles in a figure of eight through and around the High Street.

A team of 11 staff from a Staines opticians will be donating blood this month to encourage others to follow their lead.

The colleagues from Specsavers in Staines and Egham will visit the Methodist Church in Thames Street on Friday December 4.

Kids will be able to have breakfast with Father Christmas on Saturday December 12.

Que Pasa bar in Two Rivers Shopping Centre will be giving children and their parents the choice of a tea, coffee, or orange juice, and an egg, bacon, or sausage while they meet the big man.

Tickets are given on a first come first serve basis, which can be attained by visiting the bar.