Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen brings his trademark style to Battersea

Laurence showed the flamboyant and dapper suits and shirts he’d kindly donated to the Battersea Shooting Star Children’s Hospices Charity Shop.

News from Shooting Star Children’s Hospices: On Monday (7^th October), renowned interior designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen brought his fabulous style to our Battersea charity shop to celebrate a successful first year with an official celebrity opening.

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, who has been a Patron of Shooting Star Children’s Hospices along with his wife, Jackie for many years, visited our Battersea-based shop, located on Northcote Road.

Laurence showed the flamboyant and dapper suits and shirts he’d kindly donated, many of which have been adapted and designed by Laurence personally making them truly unique items available to own. They included a 2 piece Victor York (Singapore) suit, a William Hunt (Saville Row) silk dinner jacket painted by Laurence with Victor York dress shirt both worn on The Apartment, and a 2 piece William Hunt (Saville Row) suit in iconic Laura Ashley fabric which Laurence wore on Changing Rooms.

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, Patron of Shooting Star Children’s Hospices said, “Jackie and I have been supporters of Shooting Star Children’s Hospices since 2003. It’s a privilege to be part of such a vital charity and I’m thrilled to be able to celebrate the successful first year of their Northcote Road shop being open. Their charity shops, like this one in Battersea, are full of wonderful pre-loved items from clothes to homeware. It’s a real honour to be able to donate some of the suits and shirts from my own personal wardrobe, which I hope will help this fantastic charity raise money to ensure they can continue their vital support to families who so desperately need it.”

Jackie Llewelyn-Bowen, Patron of Shooting Star Children’s Hospices added, “The hospices are a family, everyone who uses the services there remains part of the family, it’s an ever-building bubble of love.”

Karen Sugarman, Executive Vice President at Shooting Star Children’s Hospices said, “It’s such a pleasure to welcome Laurence and Jackie to our Battersea shop. Laurence’s wardrobe is always full of colour and style and we are very lucky to have some of his wonderful items to be able to sell in the shop. I’d like to say a huge thank you to Laurence and his wife Jackie, who have not only being incredible Patrons, but are like family – we have certainly been through many amazing times throughout our time together at the charity.”

Nigel Harding, Chief Executive of Shooting Star Children’s Hospices said, “We are honoured that Laurence took the time to come to our Battersea shop and celebrate its very first year, and to donate some exquisite suits for us to sell as well. Shooting Star Children’s Hospices receives very little financial support from the government so we rely heavily on fundraising to continue to provide a vital lifeline for families across London and Surrey – and our 13 shops play an important role in helping fund this service. Our Battersea shop has had great support from the local community in their first year and I encourage anyone who is yet to visit to come and see what wonderful things are on offer. In doing so you will be helping families facing the unimaginable get the support they need.”

Laurence and Jackie Llewelyn-Bowen have been stalwart supporters of Shooting Star Children’s Hospices for over 20 years. Alongside Laurence’s visit and donation to the Battersea shop, the couple regularly attend the charity’s high-profile events, donating wonderful auction prizes to raise vital funds for the charity. In January 2006, Laurence and Jackie won £500,000 on behalf of Shooting Star Children’s Hospices in a special Celebrity Valentine’s Day edition of Who Wants to Be A Millionaire, holding the record for the show’s charity editions.  It was certainly a roller-coaster ride of a show, resulting in national TV and media coverage and the episode winning an NTA.  The couple have also won £20,000 a celebrity edition of The Chase.

Our 13 shops are a key source of income for us – from fabulous suits donated by Laurence, to must have homeware and spooktacular Halloween outfits – why not visit your local Shooting Star Children’s Hospices shop to pick up something amazing! And we welcome donations too – find out your nearest Shooting Star Children’s Hospices shop here.