HANDING out £73,000 raised for his charities, former mayor of Poole Cllr Ray Smith thanked the people of the town who helped him to help so many others.

Cllr Smith, now the deputy mayor, gathered representatives from his chosen charities to present funds raised during his term of office.

"I feel proud that the people of Poole supported me in such a magnificent and generous way and I think the amount raised may be a record," he said.

"I can't express deeply enough my gratitude to those who gave in street collections and my charity events."

During his year as mayor Cllr Smith started a £10,000 Plant A Tree project to bring new life to the central town cemetery and Holes Bay Road by getting companies to sponsor and dedicate a newly-planted tree.

That project is still open to individuals and businesses.

He gave £500 to the Friends of Forest Holme, £19,000 to Poole hospital - for equipment to invest-igate suspected head and neck cancers - £5,500 to buy beds and equipment for Alderney Hospital and £10,000 for Dorset Youth Orchestra to promote music.

There was £5,000 for a new women's refuge, the same amount for the Head and Neck Cancer charity, £2,000 for the Harbour Challenge youth watersports scheme.

The Fourways day centre has benefited with £700 worth of equipment, and £2,000 has been set aside for young carers, while the Poole Sea Cadets, the Dolphin Band and Parkstone Sea Cadets all received £750.

Turlin Moor Secondary School has 15 new drums, at a cost of £1,500, to create a Djambe music group, Julia's House has a new TV, while Parkstone Boys' and Girls' club received £1,700.

First published: October 22