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Mayor gives Christmas gifts at Paddington hospital
Toys brought smiles to the faces of dozens of children who are spending the festive period at a Paddington hospital.
Westminster mayor Cllr Duncan Sandys and his wife Mary Brown Sandys set up a toy drive, encouraging council employees and councillors to donate brand new toys to children at St Mary's Hospital, in Praed Street.
All the toys were new, gift wrapped and came labelled with the age and gender of the child for whom the gift was most suitable.
The mayor and his wife then took the toys to the hospital for the Christmas party for inpatient children and their siblings on Wednesday last week.
Cllr Sandys said: "We're so grateful to everyone for their generosity in donating presents for the council's first toy drive.
"So often is it the brothers and sisters of long-term sick children who are 'overlooked' in the process of Christmas presents, while parents' thoughts are understandably focussed on their sick child.
"We really hope that the toy drive will benefit those children who may not otherwise receive a present this Christmas."
Council staff at Westminster City Hall, Lisson Grove and Council House donated dozens of presents between November 30 and December 21.
This year, the toy drive was only open to council employees and councillors but in future Westminster Council hopes to roll out the scheme to include donations from borough residents.
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