The last-but-one petal has taken its place on the St Leonard's Hospice Appeal petalometer after the fundraising campaign reached another milestone.

The appeal total now stands at £1.9 million, with the landmark target of £2 million tantalisingly close.

Retired consultant surgeon Tom Matheson, who chaired the first meeting for a proposed hospice in 1978, put the £1.9 million petal in place.

Looking on were three of the four Royal College of Nursing members who first suggested the idea of a hospice for York, Elizabeth Jewitt, Mae Graham (hospice trustee) and Margaret Ackroyd.

Mr Matheson said: "There was wonderful support for the idea of a hospice back in 1978 when our goal was to provide the best possible facilities and care for patients and their families, and during the subsequent years of fundraising, for the establishment and ongoing funding of the hospice.

"It is a real privilege to add this petal and to know that £1.9 million, a wonderful amount yet again, has been raised to ensure the future care of patients and families.

"We look forward to reaching the final goal of £2 million and seeing the redevelopment complete."

Meanwhile, the fruits of the fundraising efforts were witnessed as the completion of the roof of the St Leonard's annexe was marked with a 'topping out' ceremony.

Rosemary Thompson, one of the nurses working at the hospice when the first patient was admitted in 1985, was chosen to help the construction team install a copper panel to complete the semi-circular annexe roof.

The new building is the centrepiece of the appeal campaign and will provide 20 in-patient beds in 14 rooms, all with en-suite facilities and balcony views over the countryside or landscaped courtyard.

Steven Harker, chief executive of St Leonard's Hospice, said: "With the completion of the exterior and the roof, this wonderful new building now only needs the internal finishing and fitting out."

He added: "There is still a lot to do, but our Hospice 2000 Appeal is well on target and we are very excited about the progress made and the support we have had from readers of the Evening Press and the rest of the community which is making it all possible."

Updated: 08:53 Tuesday, May 22, 2001