A CHRISTMAS fayre is being held at the Ockment Centre in Okehampton, to raise funds for the Cavitron STARS appeal which is trying to secure state of the art machinery for the specialist brain surgery unit at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth. The event, on Saturday, December 4, will be opened by John Burnett MP. There will be a chance to see Father Christmas as well as browse a variety of stalls with all proceeds going to the Cavitron Fund. Last week, the charity held its second fundraising carvery dinner at the Countryman Inn at Sampford Courtenay, raising £714. It is hoped to hold another such event in the new year. The Cavitron Fund has also been boosted by the news that popular television actor John Nettles has agreed to become the charity?s patron. Mr Nettles, best known for his portrayal of Jersey detective Jim Bergerac and currently starring in ITV crime drama Midsomer Murders will now work to help the charity raise its profile across Devon and Cornwall. Mr Nettles grew up in St Austell, where his father stayed with the family of Rex Hicks during the war. Rex died from a brain tumour last year. His widow Edna Hicks is now the Okehampton area fundraiser for the Cavitron Fund. The charity has already raised £350,000 towards its target of £850,000 to buy new stereotactic radiosurgery machinery to ensure Derriford is at the forefront of brain surgery technology. Although he has a busy schedule until Christmas, Mr Nettles has assured Mike Turner, chief executive of the Cavitron Fund, that he plans to become fully involved in the charity?s work in the new year.
