A HUMANITARIAN, hostage negotiator and author is the latest well-known and popular name to pledge support to East Cheshire Hospice’s Capital Appeal.

Already a patron of the bid to raise £2.4million for brand new facilities at Millbank Drive, Terry Waite is furthering that allegiance by speaking out on behalf of the Macclesfield charity.

Returning to his roots, Bollington-born Terry – a CBE recipient – will give a compelling talk at the Tytherington Club, on Dorchester Way, Macclesfield, in early March.

Adding to the already mightily impressive ECH appeal list, Terry joins fellow patrons such as Manchester United footballer Ryan Giggs, Lord Thomas of Macclesfield and Sir Nicholas Winterton MP as famous faces in what could be a famous appeal.

Terry said: "I hope you will join me in supporting this appeal.

"I am proud to be associated with ECH and the team of people who have given themselves to that work."

Terry, 69, has travelled the world as a humanitarian, hostage negotiator and author.

As an envoy for the Church of England, he travelled to Lebanon to try to secure the release of four hostages in 1987.

But he was held and remained in captivity for 1,763 days, the first four years of which were spent in total solitary confinement.

Since his release in 1991, Terry has been in constant demand as a lecturer, writer and broadcaster and has appeared worldwide in front of large audiences, while also providing words of support to people in social work, education, religious groups and hospices.

Fiona Reed, major relationships manager at ECH, is hoping Terry’s show will be a sell out.

She said: "When Mr Waite visited the hospice recently and offered to speak for us at an event, we were so delighted.

"To have the support of a worldwide humanitarian and keynote speaker can only help to raise our profile, and subsequently the funds needed to complete our redevelopment.

"We are very grateful to him and feel sure that many people will be keen to hear his talk."

Mark Law, general manager at the Tytherington Club, also welcomed Terry back to Macclesfield.

He said: "Our relationship with the hospice is important.

"We are also looking forward to having Terry Waite at the club in what I’m sure will be a great night for everyone involved."

‘An Evening With Terry Waite’ is scheduled for Thursday, March 12, at the Tytherington Club from 7.30pm onwards.

To book tickets for this hospice fundraising event – in support of the Caring for our Future Capital Appeal – please contact CH Communications on 01625 859805, or visit the website www.chcommunications.co.uk . Alternatively, see the hospice Caring for our Future appeal website at www.caringforourfuture.co.uk . Tickets cost £25 per person.