The new Mayor is the first in the borough’s history to select two hospices as her chosen charities.

Woodford Green Councillor Linda Huggett was elected Redbridge Mayor 2017/18 at a council meeting on May 11.

After taking over from Cllr Gurdial Bhamra last month, the Monkhams Cllr decided on Haven House Children’s Hospice and Saint Francis Hospice as the charities to benefit from this year’s Mayor’s Appeal.

For the next year every Mayor’s event in the borough will see funds raised for the two hospices.

During Children’s Hospice Week (May 22-28) Haven House staff teamed up with Iain Duncan Smith to highlight the need for children’s and adult hospices to work together now life-limited children are living much longer.

So to celebrate the launch of this year’s Mayor’s Appeal, Cllr Huggett is putting on a charity dinner to kick start her fundraising activities.

She said: “Both hospices have a very special place in my heart and provide vital support to families in our borough.

“I look forward to holding a number of exciting events for Haven House and Saint Francis Hospice throughout my year as Mayor, and I hope as many people as possible can support these two wonderful charities.”

Haven House chief executive Mike Palfreman said being chosen as one of the Mayor’s charities is a “rare honour and wonderful opportunity to raise funds and awareness”.

His counterpart at Saint Francis Hospice Pam Court said she was “absolutely thrilled” two hospices had been chosen for the Redbridge Mayor’s Appeal.

Cllr Huggett’s appeal launch dinner will take place at Papillion in Brook Road, Chigwell at 7pm on June 12.

To book a place contact Mary O’Shea on 07748155680, Joan Murphy on 07549395479 or email redbridgemayorsapppeal@hotmail.com