Hospice representative Meg Dennis, left, receives the record-breaking cheque from MP Grant Shapps and Christmas market organiser Jo Walton

IT’S an event that gets more and more popular as the years go by.

Isabel Hospice WHT 30th logo

And the last Christmas market organised by Welwyn Hatfield Conservatives proved no exception, as they were able to make a record-breaking donation to the Isabel Hospice.

MP Grant Shapps and event organiser Jo Walton handed over a cheque for £5,300 to hospice representative Meg Dennis.

The amount equalled half the proceedings of the annual festive fair, held at Hatfield House.

Mrs Walton explained that ever since the WGC-based hospice opened 30 years ago, the Tory party branch had made it a tradition to split the takings in two – keeping half and donating the rest to the charity.

Mr Shapps, an Isabel Hospice patron, said: “The hospice movement in Britain, which relies mainly on donations from the public, has shown it is possible to provide a positive and loving environment, where the terminally ill can end their lives with their pain properly managed, in the knowledge they are cared for and loved.

“Isabel Hospice is a shining example of that movement and I am incredibly proud to be one of their patrons and of course to raise money to support their continuing existence in our community.

“It is hard to think of a better cause.”

The date of this year’s market has already been set – mark Saturday, November 10 in your diaries.