WIRRAL Autistic Society celebrated its 40th anniversary in style on Saturday with a black tie Ruby Ball at Thornton Hall Hotel.
And the society’s chief executive, Dr Dianne Asher, announced that their Home from Home Appeal to build a respite centre had passed the £500,000 mark.
With the £21,500 raised at the ball, the fund now stands at almost £550,000.
In all, £1.3m will be needed to build the centre which will cater for six people suffering from autism and will give their families a brief break from the daily pressures involved in caring.
The society caters for people aged 19 or over suffering from autism. The bulk of them come from Greater Merseyside and the North West but people from all over the UK are accommodated.
It is a significant part of the Wirral economy, employing some 300 people, and last year it turned over £6.8m.
There was a touching end to the evening when the society’s award-winning band, The Beathovens, played two numbers as a tribute to their keyboard player and founder member Alan Carter, who died suddenly the day before aged 55.
