Readers of the Wokingham Times have helped raise £75,000 to begin extending a pavilion at the town’s hospital.

The fundraising campaign was launched a year ago to coincide with centenary celebrations at the weekly paper.

Times editor Keith Redbourn said: “This is another example of how local papers can make a real difference to the communities they serve.”

The five-edition broadsheet, part of the Guardian Media Group, enlisted the help of Uri Geller – who lives in the circulation area – to be patron of the appeal, and the star put on a special one-man show fund-raiser, and personally donated £10,000.

Dr Alan Penn, the chairman of Wokingham Primary Care Trust, paid tribute to the paper’s involvement, and said:

“Without the efforts of the Wokingham Times there is no way we would have raised anything like the amount we have in just 12 months.”

Times staff also raised money by taking part in a company quiz night, and organising a stand-up comedy night at a local pub.

More funding is required to fully equip the pavilion with a kitchen and other internal fixtures and fittings, and when completed, it will provide refreshments in a relaxing conservatory-style area for patients, staff and visitors to mingle away from the treatment areas and wards.

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