A PIGEON fancier from Herefordshire has raised £1,285 for his local Hospice through the sale of 24 racing pigeons.
Joe Baker organised the sale of his birds in memory of his wife Maureen, who died on August 29 after being cared for by the St Michael's Hospice at Home Team.
Joe, who has been keeping pigeons since 1978, sold the birds with help from British Homing World magazine which published his half-page advert free of charge.
The advert brought people from Dorset, Walsall, Herefordshire, East Grinstead, Cottingham and Surrey to buy Joe's top-class specimens.
Wellwishers from Gwent, Warrington and Bristol also sent donations totalling £110.
Together with collections raised earlier in the year, Joe and his friends and family have raised over £2,100 in memory of Maureen.
Joe said: "St Michael's Hospice cared for Maureen wonderfully. All of the carers and nurses are extraordinarily dedicated people.
"Maureen had to battle with her illness for almost a year. In spite of the odds, she was able to stay with us longer than anyone expected.
"This time was a blessing for our family, allowing us to enjoy and make the most of her last weeks and months."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here