Katharine House Hospice in Rugeley has a new charity now open, and on hand to cut the ribbon was TV's Charles Hanson, an antique expert.
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00:00Thank you so much for everyone coming here today. It's fantastic turnout, absolutely fantastic.
00:05Great to see so many people in Rougelay. Great for us to be back in Rougelay.
00:09The shop will open very soon.
00:13First of all, I'd like to pass it over to Dave Fletcher, who's our director of CAF
00:18and his team who do the fantastic work in Catherine House.
00:22Dave, who said he would.
00:24Thank you Simon and thank you all so much for coming to support us today.
00:33This isn't just a ribbon cutting, it's a celebration of community, compassion and the kind of care that truly makes a difference.
00:42Because since 1989, our specialist care has touched the lives of around 30,000 families right here in our local community.
00:52And that's not just a number, that's 30,000 stories of love, support, compassion and delivering specialist care when it's needed most.
01:04We're not just here for final chapters at Catherine House.
01:08From the very first day of diagnosis with an incurable illness, whether it's cancer, heart disease or dementia, we can be there for you.
01:19Right from day one, we will walk alongside you.
01:23It's a journey you will never have to take on your own.
01:26Now, I need everybody's help here today to share that message because it's one that not many people know about.
01:32And we can do so much more for our local community if they realise that message.
01:38So please do everything you can to share that far and wide from day one of diagnosis right to those very final days.
01:46Now, in the last year alone, we helped 2,000 families on that journey.
01:52And our goal is very, very simple to make sure anybody that needs us can access that care, whether it's in peaceful surroundings of the hospice or whether it's in those familiar surroundings of your home.
02:05And our care is always professional, it's always specialist, and it's always free.
02:11But here's the thing. Our care may be free for those that need it when they need it, but it certainly isn't free to provide.
02:19It takes nearly four million pounds every year.
02:23And as a charity, we rely on the kindness, the generosity of our community that raise two thirds of that figure every single year.
02:34And before you worry, we're not going to get the collection tin out just yet.
02:37We're going to wait and let you save your money until you get in the shop.
02:40But that's why today is so special, because this store and the 14 others that make it aren't just places to pick up a bargain.
02:49They are the lifeblood of our charity.
02:52Last year alone, our retail operation raised a phenomenal £1.6 million for hospice care.
02:59So when you shop, when you donate, and when you volunteer, you are directly helping somebody receive that treatment.
03:07And for 35 years, this community has shown us again and again how big its heart is.
03:14You've walked miles for us, you've baked cakes for us, you've sorted through your sock drawer for us, and we really appreciate it.
03:23So on behalf of everybody at the hospice, from the nurses to the volunteers, from the families that we care for,
03:31and therefore, we say a huge sincere thanks for making this possible.
03:46I'd like to invite Charles, who you'll recognise from TV, celebrity, bag and hub, fog it, antiques road trip.
03:55That's right.
03:58Well, it is really kind, and it's an honour to be here.
04:01And I think just hearing those words and such passion, with such provenance and with such pedigree,
04:07really epitomises and I think defines what Catherine House Hospice do.
04:12And life can be a journey, it can be a voyage of discovery for good and bad.
04:16And I think, you know, always being supportive of you, but very much being alongside you through good and bad.
04:23And I think through your local support, the wider community at large, the journey does go on for so many people,
04:30for those loved ones as well.
04:31So it's a real pleasure to be here today, to officially, are you ready for this ladies?
04:36To officially, oh there we go, open.
04:39And what we often say in the auction world, for the first time, you do make memories.
04:44For the future, you will make memories.
04:47And now we are going, going, gone.
04:51And...
04:52Mr. Hanson, hello sir.
04:53Hello there.
04:54We know your face off such programmes as bargain hunts, antiques, this and that.
05:00I've been doing them probably almost half of my lifetime now, since 2002.
05:05Yeah.
05:06Bargain hunting, foggating and, of course, antiques road trips.
05:09And, of course, we're in Rougely, opening the new Catherine House Hospice Shop, Rougely Staffordshire.
05:14And you've got a base not far from here.
05:16We have a base not far from here.
05:18A base called Bishton Hall, where we, again, handle all sorts of antiques and specialist items.
05:24And, of course, it's wonderful to be local here within the hospice shop today.
05:30We've just opened because it's such a reward to simply see people supporting what's close and humble in artefacts, art, clothing and all sorts of accessories.
05:42And, of course, there's always treasures.
05:44It's amazing now what is collectible and what you can find in a hospice shop.
05:49So where did you grow up as a young man?
05:51As a young man, I grew up in Derbyshire, on the outskirts of Ashbourne, born and bred and went to school in Derby and have always stayed quite local.
06:02And what was your route into getting interested in antiques then?
06:05Were there quirky antiques in the family home?
06:08I think, of course, Derbyshire and Staffordshire were very well blessed with country houses.
06:12Chakra down here, Ingustry, and up in Derbyshire, Chatsworth and Kedleston.
06:17And it was probably being taken around these old homes, seeing interiors from bygone days that really got me so cemented into social history.
06:27And I think provenance and people, we can all tell stories about heirlooms we inherit.
06:33And in terms of antiques, there's many different facets. There's old pub stuff, there's certain periods.
06:39Is there one kind of type of antique that really catches you?
06:42I think I almost now feel antique. I've been around so long, I've seen new collecting markets emerge.
06:48So from things like the 1950s, 60s, 70s retro, to Pokemon cards, huge growth area, even 1990s toys.
06:57You know, from your childhood, I'm sure you've got some 90s toys lurking at home.
07:02Definitely.
07:03But really, I think the antique market is as popular as ever.
07:06My great love is silver and ceramics.
07:09And being from Staffordshire, in the potteries, home is where the heart is.
07:13Of course, yeah. And we're hearing, how true is it? I don't know.
07:16But we're hearing that there's a new generation coming through with a love of antiques.
07:20So are you getting a sense of that as well?
07:22I think there is. I think in this sort of greener world now, we live in a desire to recycle, the desire to protect our environment.
07:30There is a big fashion amongst the new generation to furnish their home with not just shabby sheep,
07:37but now with this respect for recycling, but also objects, which from the hospice shop here today, everything is unique and tells the story.
07:47Great stuff. And of course, you know, we're in a charity shop.
07:51Potentially, someone could make their fortune.
07:54There could be a little gem of an antique sitting on a shelf for a couple of quid, couldn't I?
07:57I'm keeping my eye on the shelves over there.
07:59Yeah, yeah.
08:00I've bought a something. There's a couple of people with eyes on there now.
08:03So I might just make a move over there and make sure I can secure it.
08:07You never know what's going to be lurking on a shelf day by day.
08:10It's always a joy to own something that tells a story.
08:14But very happy to be here today to help Catherine House with their shop.
08:18I think the warmth here today across many generations, across the heartbeat of Staffordshire and Rooge,
08:25where the home is and where there's going.
08:27What's your name, madam?
08:28I'm Sharon.
08:29Hello, Sharon. How are you?
08:30I'm fine, thank you.
08:32What do you think? You've had a look around the new store now. It's a big site, isn't it?
08:34It's very big, yes, and I think it's great.
08:37Yeah, and the work they do. Fantastic, yeah.
08:40Fantastic. Absolutely fantastic. I always use a charity shop. I love a charity shop.
08:44Yeah, you know what, that's me and you both.
08:46So anything in particular you're looking for? Brick-a-brack clothes?
08:49No, it was clothes for my husband, actually.
08:51Is it?
08:52Yeah.
08:53Cool. Well, good luck. Keep that search going.
08:54I will.
08:56Thank you very much.