John Jacklin, of the WM and BW Lloyd Trust handed over a cheque for £11,600 to Leanne Green, funding team leader at the East Lancashire Hospice. The money was raised from the sale of two recent local history books, Matt Donnelly’s  ‘Surviving Lockdown. My photo journey through the pandemic’ and Harold Heys’ ‘Darren & Darreners, People & Places.’

The Lloyd Trust paid for the publishing and every penny take in sales and donations went to the Hospice. Among the donations was £200 from swim coach Barbara Hoyle and the FITT group (Fogarty Insurance Triathhlon Team).

Matt and Harold’s book both sold out quickly but they each kept a copy to hand over to the Hospice for their library.

Leanne said donations such as this were vital to keep the Hospice going so strongly.

Darwen Heritage Centre arranged the launches of the two books and welcomed Leanne to the informal presentation.

Centre chairman Tony Foster said: “The presentation and the book launches showed the diversity of the centre and how it has been making its mark for the benefit of the town and for the interests of local folk.”