Anita Dobson to cut the cake as Thames Hospice's Reading Superstore celebrates it's first birthday

Thames Hospice is thrilled to announce their Patron, star of stage and screen Anita Dobson, will join in the celebrations to mark the first anniversary of its Reading Superstore on Friday 17 October at 10am.

Located at 17 Richfield Avenue, the Superstore has quickly become a staple of the local community, thanks to the tireless efforts of staff, volunteers, and the overwhelming support of customers.

The first birthday event promises fun and festivities, featuring upcycling workshops, 1-2-1 fashion styling, children’s activities, and free cake and refreshments.

Annie Campbell, Interim Retail Director at Thames Hospice said: “We are delighted that Anita Dobson will be joining us to celebrate this exciting milestone. “We’re incredibly grateful to the Reading community for embracing us over the past year. Thanks to their support, our store has grown in every way, from sales and donations to volunteering and community engagement.”

Over the past 12 months, the Reading Superstore has flourished into a vibrant destination offering a wide range of preloved and upcycled furniture, homeware, fashion, books, toys, and more. Its vintage section, Cafe, and alterations service have quickly become local favourites.

Sustainability is at the heart of the Superstore’s mission, with its Homestudio playing a key role in transforming donated furniture into unique, upcycled pieces, all made possible by a dedicated team of staff and volunteers.

“Opening a Superstore of this scale was an ambitious step for us,” added Annie. “But the move has opened up incredible opportunities for volunteers and local groups, with space for private hire and delicious in-house catering.”

We have 23 stores across the Thames Valley and together, they need to raise over £6 million every year to help fund vital services to support patients and families when they need it most.