Upminster businessman Stephen Roome has been appointed as St Francis Hospice’s newest trustee.

Stephen’s family owns Roomes Furniture and Interiors in Station Road and has a long history with the Havering-atte-Bower charity. His mother was a volunteer for St Francis for more than 20 years, while his father received care at the hospice before he died.

Stephen joined the family business in 1976 and still works there part-time. St Francis Hospice CEO Pam Court said his “wealth of retail experience” would be an asset to the hospice as it tried to increase profit from its charity shops.

Stephen said: “Charity shops have become an integral part of the high street, but it’s always important to ensure that our shops enhance that shopping experience and we have a great team of people who are working really hard to achieve that.”