Rotherham pub bars Cancer Research UK collectors

THERE was no room at the inn for shocked supermarket staff who  gave up their Sunday night to collect for a cancer charity.

When the 24-strong group, dressed in eye-catching pink tutus, cancer logo T-shirts and pink leggings reached the Masons Arms at Wickersley, they were told by the manager: “No collecting. Get out.”

One of the stunned organisers said: “To be honest we were gobsmacked.

“We just looked at each other saying ‘did we hear him right?’ We had been so well received at other clubs pubs and businesses in the area and had managed to collect around £200.

“The pub was not busy and and there did not seem to be any reason why we should be asked us to leave.”

The big hearted charity collectors from Morrison’s at Bramley were collecting for Cancer Research UK, the store’s chosen charity during a five-mile sponsored walk.

They were travelling round the district rattling collecting buckets last Sunday night when they were given their marching orders at the Masons Arms.

The spokeswoman for the group added: “When we reached the Masons, we explained who we were and what we were doing and a colleague asked the person we took to be the manager if we could collect.

“He replied ‘no, we don’t let anyone collect.’ We said, OK, thank you, but just then a customer asked who we were collecting for and he put £1 in our bucket.

“The manager then said ‘told you, no collecting. Get out.’ So we left.

“We had visited the Travellers at Bramley, the Co-op store at Wickersley, the Brecks Hotel, Brecks Garage, Sainsbury’s, The Stag Inn, Three Horseshoes and Bramley Club, and had been well received at all of them.

“I suppose that’s why it came as a bit of shock when we reached the Masons and were told to leave the premises in such a way.”

But the collecting team are putting the incident behind them after the evening raised another £1,200 in sponsorship and a sale and raffle in store raised a further £1,700 for the cancer charity.

Neil Moore, pub manager at The Masons Arms said:"The Masons Arms hosts regular fundraising days for several local and national charities.

“Over the last two years we have raised more than £5,000 for charity. However, to ensure there is no fraudulent fundraising, our policy means fundraisers can only collect on the premises with prior agreement.

"I'd like to apologise to the group for any inconvenience caused on the night.

“We are currently undergoing a full refurbishment but when we reopen on 23 November, I'd like to invite them back and host a fundraising day for this worthy cause."