SARACENS rugby players teamed up with some unusual companions for a one-off tea party last week to promote Remember A Charity Week.

They took tea with a guest list which included an alpaca, a ram, a dog, elderly residents from St Albans-based charity Abbeyfield, an MS nurse, a wheelchair user and a guide dog and handler.

The tea party last Wednesday at Woollams playing fields in Harpenden Road was to raise awareness of the importance of charitable legacy-giving as part of this year’s Remember A Charity Week which runs until Sunday.

The charities participating in the specially-dedicated week which began on Monday are Abbeyfield, the Animal Care Trust, Aspire, Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, Lymphoma Association and The MS Trust The assorted guest list was to illustrate the vast range of beneficiaries that can be helped by simply giving.

Jill Burder, fundraising manager for Abbeyfield, said: “This week gives charities a platform to raise awareness of the importance of charitable legacy-giving and to encourage more people to consider leaving a gift to charity in their will.”

She pointed out that according to global market research company TNS, 35 per cent of people say they would consider including a gift to charity after providing for their family and friends in their will and only seven per cent do so.

“There is huge potential to increase income from legacies,” she added.