A TEAM of fundraisers who raised almost half-a-million pounds in the past decade have handed the reins to a group of new recruits.

Geoff and Jane Corani and Martin and Sandra Price have run the Rockbourne Fair committee for ten years, and have raised £457,865 for Salisbury District Hospital’s charity, the Stars Appeal.

They were honoured at a special presentation on Monday, where representatives from the charity explained how the funds have helped shape patients’ experiences at the hospital.

The Stars Appeal’s head of fundraising Dave Cates said: “Thank you doesn’t quite cut it.

“The amount raised is incredible. We have done a huge amount with that money and it will continue to help people for years to come.”

Mr Cates outlined projects the Stars Appeal has completed with money raised by the annual Rockbourne Fair, including improving facilities for patients undergoing chemotherapy and hiring a clinical aromatherapist to make treatment a more positive experience, building a new children’s unit, creating a dedicated breast care unit, and The Benson Suite, a space where families can spend time with babies who are stillborn or premature.

Carolyn Pitt, whose son Arthur has spend time in hospital after being diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at ten days old, also spoke about how the charity has helped her family.

“We needed the care and the setting that we could just come in and be a family, and it just gave everyone time and peace and quiet.”

Carolyn said Arthur, now four, has found the experience so comfortable he asks if the whole family can stay overnight when he has a hospital appointment.

“You can’t ask for better than that, that just makes everything easier to bear.

“Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, your money is just so important.”

Last year’s Rockbourne Fair alone raised £49,000 to help support the Stars Appeal’s ongoing campaign, the charity’s biggest yet, to buy a second MRI scanner.

The retiring committee were presented with gifts and flowers from the charity’s president, the Earl of Pembroke.

Mrs Corani said: “The last ten years have been fun, hard work and a privilege. We have thoroughly enjoyed every single moment of it.”

Mr Corani added: “We knew what we were raising money for, but today’s presentation has brought it to a huge crescendo, and it’s very emotional and we’re proud that we’ve done it.

“We are very grateful to the new team, who have come in with a great deal of enthusiasm.”

The new committee will be chaired by Bev Moulding, who said there were “big boots to fill” and that they would bring “fresh eyes and fresh ideas” to the fundraising.