A TRIBUTE evening to a former South Lakes bank manager raised an impressive £5,5000 for St John’s Hospice.

Helen Soutar, who lives in Bolton-le-Sands organised the evening at Kendal Football Club in memory of her late husband, Phil.

Local band The Lancaster Bombers performed live at the pie and peas supper, which also included a disco, auction and raffle.

Mr Soutar, who was a banking relationship manager for Barclays both in and around Kendal, battled with cancer for eight years and was cared for by St John’s in his home in New Hutton and on the in-patient ward.

He passed away in April 2012 after an eight-year battle with cancer just before the couple’s 30th wedding anniversary.

Mrs Soutar, who worked for Barclays for 35 years and is now a fundraiser at the hospice, said: “It was an amazing evening and the money raised is enough to pay for six weeks of nursing care by a Hospice at Home Nurse.”

Next year Mrs Soutar will co-lead a team of 50 local St John’s supporters on an overseas trek to Machu Picchu in Peru. She is raising funds for the hospice in memory of Phil and to support the Peru Trek Team’s goal of raising £150,000 for St John’s.

She praised her former colleagues from Barclays, who ran the raffle and auction and for which Barclays provided matched funding.

“Local businesses were absolutely amazing as they donated a host of fabulous prizes for the auction and raffle,” she said. “And Finney’s at Kendal Football Club made us so welcome at their fabulous venue.

“I would also like to thank the 150 people who travelled from near and far to support me and the event.”