Hospital celebrates volunteer Charles Dickens (From Wimbledon Guardian)

Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability celebrates volunteer Charles Dickens

3:10pm Friday 5th October 2012 in Freetime By Alexandra Rucki

A neuro-disability hospital is hosting an evening with Dickens event to celebrate the author who was one of its first volunteers.

Charles Dickens was an associate of the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability (RHN) founder Dr Andrew Reed and wrote in support of the institution.

The author also hosted dinners to raise money for the building on West Hill and helped the charity come into being.

To coincide with Dickens' centenary year, actor John Tallents is giving dramatic readings from the author's works in the hospital, and there will be canapés and wine for audience members.

Tallents is also donating his services for free in memory of Dickens and to generate funds for the RHN.

He said: "It’s so rewarding to do a show like this in such a spectacular and beautiful place. It feels nicely spooky to perform somewhere that the great man himself support, and to give the illusion that he has just popped back into the building."

The event forms part of a series of  Art on the Hill events taking place at the hospital this Autumn  to raise awareness and funds of the RHN.

Money will help support RHN patients who are affected by brain injury or disease.

An Evening with Dickens is taking place at RHN, in West Hill, Putney at 6pm on October 11, with tickets priced £25 per person.

For more information email events@rhn.org.uk or call 020 8780 4565.