Rolling Stone Gathers 15,000 Protesters ; KEEF LEADS MARCH TO SAVE HOSPITAL

Oct 28, 05:13 AM

Current Headlines: By EUAN HAMILTON

ROLLING Stone Keith Richards led a 15,000 strong demo to save his local hospital yesterday.

He was joined by his ex-model wife Patti, Hyacinth Bucket actress Patricia Routledge and Christopher Timothy, best known as TV vet James Herriot.

The wrinkly-faced rocker, 62, turned up to the demo in a minibus dressed in a long black leather coat, a trilby and sunglasses.

With a cigarette hanging from his lips, he carried a poster warning people would die if St Richard's Hospital in Chichester, West Sussex, was closed.

Keith, 62, has owned Redlands, in nearby West Wittering, since the 1960s.

It was the scene of an infamous drugs bust in 1967.

His main home is in Connecticut, USA.

A public consultation is underway about the provision of hospital services in West Sussex.

Campaigners fear health chiefs are planning to downgrade two of the county's three hospitals.

Keith and his fellow protesters want St Richard's Hospital to retain its acute A&E and maternity services A spokeswoman for the Rolling Stone said: "Keith Richards is a long-standing member of the West Wittering community and is pleased to lend hissupport to local efforts to save St Richard's Hospital.

"It is a vital local amenity not only for residents but for visitors and holidaymakers.

"A walk is planned to raise awareness and public support for the hospital."

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