Call the Midwife doctor joins nurses for Saffron Walden charity shop re-opening

REAL nurses and a TV doctor will officially reopen the Saffron Walden St Clare Hospice shop on Tuesday (March 5).

Stephen McGann, who plays Dr Turner in the hit BBC series Call the Midwife, will join two nurses from St Clare at the re-opening, following a complete refit of the shop in Mercers Row.

Stephen lives in Saffron Walden with wife Heidi Thomas, who writes the popular show, currently in its second series.

Hospice chief executive Tanya Curry said: “We’re delighted that Stephen has agreed to join us – it’s always good to have a doctor in the house!”

The Saffron Walden shop’s much-needed facelift has included removing the dated shop fittings, revealing some of the shop’s original features, and improving the inadequate heating and lighting.

In its place is a shop more in fitting with its lovely position in Saffron Walden and addressing the growing and changing tastes of the modern charity shop customer.

“The worth of the shop to St Clare Hospice should not be under-estimated. Last year 999 patients were cared for by our specialist palliative care nurses and one in four of those patients were Uttlesford residents,” added Tanya.

“That same year, the profit generated by our Saffron Walden shop alone could have paid for more than half the cost of caring for those 249 Uttlesford residents and their families, in their own homes.

“So whether you shop at, volunteer in, or donate to the Saffron Walden St Clare Hospice shop, you personally make a genuine contribution to local families at a time in their lives when they need it most.

“We are confident that the new-look shop will be even more popular than it has been before.”

The shop reopens at 10am on Tuesday March 5.