Pine Tree closes

Customers also joined the staff and volunteers to mark the closure of the Pine Tree after 17 years of continuous trading in town.

Chris Jones, Trading Manager for St Michael's Hospice, said, "We wanted to express our thanks to loyal customers and our wonderful volunteers on this sad occasion.

"Unfortunately, the Pine Tree has long been running at a substantial loss. We have been forced to take this realistic but tough decision at a time when the Hospice has a deficit of 220,000, largely due to a drop in donations and a fall in people making a legacy to the Hospice in their will.

"The Pine Tree was popular with regulars of course because it was seen as a welcoming meeting place in the community," added Chris.

"However, we could no longer subsidise it. A venture is worth running if it makes at least some money to support the core work of the Hospice, which is to help people who have life-limiting illness and their carers".

There is however good news on the horizon - St Michael's will be opening a Hospice shop in the town centre "quite soon".

Chris said: " Bexhill has a tremendous band of Hospice supporters. It is still crucially important that St Michael's has a very strong presence in the area, and that we continue to involve people locally in all our fundraising activities."

If anyone is interested in helping in St Michael's new Hospice shop, please contact Andrea Garrick , Voluntary Services Manager on 01424 445177 or Chris Jones, Trading Manager on 07790 117067