Press release: TV historian backs children's emergency department appeal

TV historian Dan Snow has backed the fundraising appeal for a new emergency and trauma department at Southampton Children’s Hospital.

The BBC presenter, who has a history slot on The One Show and his own digital history channel Dan Snow’s History Hit, is set to donate all proceeds from an upcoming event organised by the Friends of Brockenhurst to the cause.

He will hold a talk covering everything from the war zones of Syria and the Viking churches of Greenland, to the last British Dambuster and Maori historians.

The evening will also see an auction and other fundraising activities as Southampton Hospital Charity and The Murray Parish Trust look to close in on the remaining £500k of a £2 million target.

Work on the state-of-the-art £5.1 million children's emergency and trauma department, which is expected to see more than 30,000 youngsters every year from across the south of England, began in April.

It will include an eight-bed observation area, 11 glass-fronted and soundproof cubicles and on-hand x-ray facilities, as well as observed play areas and a short stay unit.

The £2 million in donations will be matched by the government once the total is met and a further £1.1 million allocated by University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust.

"I am really looking forward to this event in Brockenhurst where I will be talking about the people, places and things that I've seen in 15 years of making history,” said Dan.

“I’m also pleased to be lending my support to the fantastic children's emergency and trauma department appeal as it now reaches its final stages of fundraising."

Charlotte Otter, major gifts fundraising manager at Southampton Hospital Charity, added: "We are extremely grateful to Dan and the Friends of Brockenhurst for their support.

"This will be a fascinating evening for all and we hope this event will really help to boost our final phase of fundraising."

Tickets for the event at Brockenhurst Village Hall, which will take place on Friday, 12 October from 7pm, are on general sale from Pot Pourri, 60 Brookley Road, SO42 7RA. Payments can be made in cash or cheque payable to Friends of Brockenhurst.

For more information on the event or to find out more about Friends of Brockenhurst, email info@friendsofbrockenhurst.org.uk or call Linda on 07713 257432 or 01590 623797.