THIS year’s black tie Firefighters’ Ball proved to be an outstanding success, raising £3,800 for the charity.

Now in its third year, the event, which was held in the Gatsby Ball Room at Griggs Green’s Old Thorns Hotel, attracted 188 people form the community and surrounding areas.

Liphook fire chief Craig Morgan told The Herald: “We managed to raise £1,000 more than last year and I believe that was down to getting the timing of the event spot on.

“It was great to see so many familiar faces as well as new ones coming along, and we have now managed to establish the event in the annual Liphook diary.

“We had a great new live band call Graffiti coming all the way from Cardiff, as well as a fantastic DJ, and raised money with amazing raffle prizes as well as cash donations.

“I want to say a big thank-you to all the local shops and businesses that kindly donated prizes and to Old Thorns for the smooth running of the event.”

The Firefighters Charity supports more than 5,000 beneficiaries a year through a broad range of services, addressing individual needs.

The re-ablement approach includes physiotherapists, exercise therapists and psychological therapists all involved in the programme delivery. The charity supported one of the local firefighters, who was injured in Grayshott, when his fire engine was involved in a serious collision back in 2015.

Mark Wilson, who was on duty with the Grayshott watch, was badly injured while on a call-out to an emergency in Alton, when his truck hit a tree on Headley Road, near the Waggoner’s Wells turn off.

He had to be cut out of the vehicle and airlifted to Southampton General Hospital where he was treated for a dislocated pelvis and broken leg.

He then underwent intense treatment and a severe rehabilitation programme at Harcombe House in Devon, while his family was also given support by the Firefighters Charity.

The organisation, which is celebrating 75 years, is almost entirely funded through donations from the community and public, supporting bereaved families of firefighters killed during the Blitz, to a modern day services that provides life enhancing health and wellbeing support to the whole fire community.

To celebrate the charity has created a #My75Miles anniversary challenge, which can involve running, swimming, walking, cycling or any other activity.

For more information visit www.firefighterscharity.org.uk