A North Herts vicar will be taking the stage for Garden House Hospice Care’s Strictly Come Jive and Swing on November 17.

Rev Terrance Bell – vicar of Kings Walden, Offley and Lilley – will be taking part in the dance competition to raise money for the charity that has “helped and cared for several friends and parishioners”.

Rev Bell said: “When I was ordained I never thought that I’d be dancing around a ballroom – albeit with the loveliest wife a person could hope to be married to.

“There are many things a vicar does but dancing didn’t figure high on my list.

“Having been a Hospice chaplain myself, I have seen first-hand the great good that hospices can do.

“Over the time I’ve been vicar in my current parishes, there have been several parishioners and friends who have been helped and cared for at Garden House Hospice Care.

“It is a truly wonderful place and a blessing for everyone from those who use the Hawthorne Centre, are cared for by Hospice at Home, on the In-Patient Unit, by Family Support Services or are supported by the Compassionate Neighbours scheme.

“For these reasons and because I can dance with my lovely wife, I am taking part in the hospice’s Strictly Jive and Swing event.

“It should be a great evening of fun and a splendid way to raise some much-needed funds for Garden House Hospice Care, so that they can continue to do such good work for many years to come.”

Rev Bell and his wife Sarah – along with the other participants – have been undergoing training sessions with world record holders, JiveSwing, who will be performing at the event.

Terrance and Sarah have already raised nearly £700 for the hospice. To support them, go to mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/sarahbell3.

The winners of the competition will be determined by the judges – editor for The Comet and Royston Crow Nick Gill, Miss Hertfordshire Kate Gee-Finch, Chairman of Trustees at the hospice John Proctor and Mayor of Stevenage councillor Margaret Notley – with the help of the audience.

Tickets are 20 per cent off at £18 for adults and £10 for children if you book before 10pm tomorrow,

To find out more and to book tickets go to ghhospicecare.org.uk.