Lisburn.com

 

Exiles Forum

Lisburn, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland
 
 

 

 
 
 
 

Musical extravaganza in Hillsborough for Middle East hospitals

From left to right are: Frank Shields, Robin Eyre-Maunsell from Hillsborough, Judge Peter Smithwick, Petta Taaffe, John McKee and John Igoe attended a reception at a fundraising concert recently hosted at Hillsborough Castle by the Order of St. John. Members of St. John Ambulance Joy Jackson, Ray Taylor, Sadie Greer and Anne Spence from Lisburn enjoy refreshments during a reception at the fundraising concert
From left to right are: Frank Shields, Robin Eyre-Maunsell from Hillsborough, Judge Peter Smithwick, Petta Taaffe, John McKee and John Igoe attended a reception at a fundraising concert recently hosted at Hillsborough Castle by the Order of St. John. Members of St. John Ambulance Joy Jackson, Ray Taylor, Sadie Greer and Anne Spence from Lisburn enjoy refreshments during a reception at the fundraising concert

A MUSICAL extravaganza held recently in Hillsborough Castle in aid of the St. John Eye Hospital in Jerusalem and the Holy Family Maternity Hospital in Bethlehem has raised over �4,000.

The evening, organised by Hillsborough resident Robin Eyre-Maunsell, saw over 120 guests enjoy musical renditions by members of the Downshire String Quartet in the impressive surroundings of the Throne Room at Hillsborough Castle.

From left to right are: David and Heather Kingan from Hillsborough, David Smith and Mayo Walters enjoy refreshments during a reception at the fundraising concert.Mr Eyre-Maunsell was joined on the evening by his wife Eleanor, who is a member of the Downshire String Quartet, and fellow members of the group, Ottolline Maas, Hilary Flett and Janet Ferguson together with Soprano Judy Schmidt and pianist Michael Swallow.

Mr Eyre-Maunsell was representing the Order of St. John and working in close partnership with the Order of Malta. He introduced the evening and outlined the work of the Eye Hospital, which treats 83,000 patients from East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza.

As there is no national medical service in Palestine, the maternity hospital and the eye hospital both rely heavily on donations from the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and the Order of St. John for their funding. Robin Eyre-Maunsell said:

"The joint fund raising event will be greatly appreciated by the medical staff in Jerusalem and Bethlehem who provide high quality care for all who come, regardless of race, religion, culture or social condition."

Ulster Star
05/12/2008