RICHMOND Villages, which is constructing its eighth retirement village at Wood Norton near Evesham, has chosen the MS Society as its nominated charity for the year.

Its first fund raising event was held recently at the Evesham Hotel called ‘Time for Tea and Chocolate’.

Featuring an illustrated talk by Laurence Trackman, professor of chocolate from the University of Happiness, he guided the audience through the world of chocolate tasting, and unwrapped the mysteries of the world’s favourite confectionery.

The event was sponsored by many businesses in Evesham who donated prizes for a draw.

“We had an excellent attendance at the event including both future residents and new visitors to Richmond Wood Norton, local business people and those from the national gardening scheme at Gloucester,” said Wendy Middleton, community relations and events manager at the village.

MS Society area fundraiser Andy Jarrett said: "A big thank you to the team at Richmond Villages, everyone who attended and those who kindly donated raffle prizes.

"It was a treat listening to the 'Professor of Chocolate' and to have raised a brilliant £336 to help stop MS is an excellent result for the approximately 1,000 people in Worcestershire who have a diagnosis of MS and those close to them.

“MS is an unpredictable condition which is different for everyone but is often painful and exhausting and can cause problems with how you walk, move, see, think and feel.

"We are delighted that Richmond Villages will partner with the MS Society during 2018 and we look forward to seeing their impressive looking new village take shape."