WITH a wave of her wand, Fairy Sparkle was able to spread some festive joy at the Rowans Hospice.
The cast from The Kings Theatre’s production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs visited the Purbrook hospice yesterday.
Keith Brine, of Passfield Walk, Havant, has been visiting the day care centre at the hospice for the past nine months.
The 69-year-old has been diagnosed with cancer in the spine and lungs.
He said: ‘We didn’t know anything about the panto, then I saw some dwarfs get out from a car.
‘I put two and two together and thought the visit was brilliant.
‘I’m taking my two grandsons to see the panto, so I will be telling them I got to meet the cast personally.
‘We might be ill, but we’re not miserable and these sort of visits help.’
The cast spent time talking to patients and having their pictures taken with them.
Marlane Trodd, 73, of Francis Road, Horndean, said: ‘I have been coming here for a year since I was diagnosed with cancer.
‘The day care centre is brilliant – once a week we get to do arts and crafts, listen to guest speakers and have a hot meal.
‘It’s brilliant the cast took time out to visit us.
‘They’re all young, busy people, but it means a lot that they visit.’
Jen Pringle, who plays Fairy Sparkle, said: ‘It was such a lovely visit and the hospice is amazing.
‘The staff were wonderful and helpful.
‘It was great to speak to some of the patients and listen to their stories.
‘It was lovely to see we had made them smile, and they definitely made me smile.’
Tracey Jeffery, day care nurse manager, said the visit helps improve the quality of life for day care centre visitors.
She said: ‘I thought the visit was fabulous.
‘It cheers people up, improves the quality of life, and people old and young love the pantomime.
‘The day care provides people with life-limiting illnesses with the chance to share their stories and experiences, so they don’t feel alone.
‘And you’ll see staff from around the building always come to have some fun too.’
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