A CHARITY collector from West Devon has said she is ‘disappointed, saddened and disgusted’ after being denied permission to collect for charity at a local theatre.

Mary Tomes arranged to collect for blood cancer research charity Bloodwise with the Bloodwise Okehampton fundraising group — the only branch in West Devon — at recent performances of Calendar Girls the Musical at the Theatre Royal Plymouth.

However, she was then contacted by the charity ’at the eleventh hour’ to say that the theatre had vetoed the collection because it was in conflict with its own position as a charity which needed donations.

She has since written to the Theatre Royal Plymouth to protest at the refusal, saying it was particularly baffling given that Bloodwise was a long-time supporter of Calendar Girls, as it particularly resonated with people affected by blood cancer.

‘I am absolutely disappointed, saddened and disgusted that the Theatre Royal at the eleventh hour has refused permission for Bloodwise to collect at the recent Calendar Girls the Musical,’ said Mary.

‘Calendar Girls has always been associated with Bloodwise and over the years, starting with the theatre production, the film and now the musical, has raised thousands of pounds for this worthy charity.

‘Myself, a good friend who travelled from Dorset plus two other members of the Bloodwise Okehampton fundraising group were due to collect for the charity over four performances on Wednesday, July 31 and Thursday, August 1. This was all arranged with Bloodwise.

‘Then on the day itself we got a phone call from Bloodwise to say they had been in touch with the stage manager at the theatre and it was not possible for us to collect because they are a charity themselves and they don’t want other charities to collect,’ continued Mrs Tomes.

‘I found this absolutely extraordinary,’ she said.

‘I feel charities should help other charities but even more so because Calendar Girls has always been associated with Bloodwise, the story is that the WI member lost her husband to Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.’

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