EastEnder Babs opens St Joseph’s Hospice Christmas bazaar
FORMER EastEnders and Carry On star Barbara Windsor opened St Joseph’s Hospice annual Christmas bazaar on Saturday.
The 73-year-old, who quit her role as Queen Vic landlady Peggy Mitchell in the BBC TV soap earlier this year, spent time meeting and chatting to patients, volunteers and some of the hundreds of customers attending.
It was a homecoming for bubbly Babs, who was born in Shoreditch and went to school in Stamford Hill before achieving showbiz stardom.
The fundraising event raised a record-breaking �22,300 for the hospice in Mare Street, Hackney, which cares each year for more than 1,000 people, including East Enders, with terminal illness.
Barbara, who is a long-term supporter of the hospice, having previously opened its summer fete, said: “It was lovely to get back to my roots and help the wonderful St Joseph’s Hospice again, and be reminded of the fantastic and caring job that is done there.
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“I was thrilled and impressed to see the new wing and I am proud I was asked to open the gates to start the day off.
“Everyone there on the day was so much fun and it was a delight to be a part of such a worthwhile cause.”
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Michael Kerin, St Joseph’s chief executive, said: “Barbara worked incredibly hard and helped make this a record-breaking event. We’re incredibly grateful for all her support.”
Among the attractions were bric-a-brac stalls, a Santa’s grotto and musical entertainment from the Nostalgia Steel Band and Music for People.
