This year's Annette Fox Leukaemia Fund Gala Ball will be the last one

Next month is the 30th anniversary of the Annette Fox Leukaemia Research Fund Gala Ball - and it will be the final one.

The annual event has been supported by Bradford rock band Smokie over the decades, with auction prizes donated by big names in sport and music. This year’s gala ball will be a memorial event for Annette and also for her late parents, Colin and Irene, and for Smokie legend Terry Uttley and his wife, Shirley.

“Annette’s dad passed away recently and her mum passed in 2021. The Fund continues to do great work supporting patients in the Bradford district, but with the 30th anniversary of the ball coming up, it seems a fitting time to draw it to a close,” says Terry and Shirley’s daughter, Holly.

“It was a huge part of our parents’ lives, and ours as a family. In the early 1990s our mum was treated on the ward by Professor Parapia and she and Dad wanted to give something back. The first ball was in 1992, it was meant to be a one-off event but it was such a success it just snowballed. It became a real family affair, with lots of trustees and volunteers involved.

“Over the years we’ve had some incredible auction prizes including Amir Khan’s boxing gloves, a guitar from Rick Parfitt of Status Quo, a leather jumpsuit worn by Suzi Quatro, signed footballs, music memorabilia, holidays, Houses of Parliament tours and even cars.

Guitars donated to a previous ball for auction prizes (Image: Victor De Jesus)

“The money raised every year has made such a difference to local patients and their families. It covers a wide spectrum of care, from providing home comforts to small holidays, as well as practical and emotional support. What a wonderful legacy for that group of family and friends who started it all up 30 years ago.”

Terry with guests at one of the previous gala balls (Image: Holly Uttley)

This year’s gala ball is at the Craiglands Hotel in Ilkley on Friday, May 17. There will be a three-course meal, auction, raffle and live music from Smokie.

The Annette Fox Leukaemia Research Fund was set up in memory of Annette - a Bradford girl who died of leukaemia in 1980, aged 17. Founded by Annette’s parents, Colin and Irene, hospital staff and friends, it has since raised more than £2million.

The first meeting of the Fund was held in July 1983 at the home of Professor Liakat Ali Parapia, Consultant Haematologist. Ten years later a Haematological Unit was built on Ward 7 at Bradford Royal Infirmary - thanks to £650,000 raised by the charity.

The Annette Fox Haematology Unit, opened by the Duchess of Kent in 1993, gave patients privacy and dignity, with en-suite rooms, TVs and bright furnishings. A day care service was also established at the unit.

In 2008, thanks to further fundraising, the clinical space was extended and the day unit was refurbished.

In 2018, Bradford Hospital Trust moved the Haematology Ward to Ward 33, which had ensuite rooms, and the Haematology Day Case Unit moved to Ward 16.

Professor Parapia says the support of Smokie has been a “great boon to leukaemia care in Bradford”.

“They have supported The Annette Fox Leukaemia Research Fund for over 30 years and raised money well in excess of £500,000 and continue to do so,” he adds.

“Smokie will once again play at the Craiglands, Ilkley, on May 17. This is a special evening as it is a memorial event for Terry and Shirley as well as for Annette and her parents, Colin and Irene Fox.

“Terry, Shirley and Colin and Irene over the years were more like family to us than just friends. I had the privilege of looking after Annette, Shirley and Terry.

“Smokie has drawn hundreds of people to the Ball and have never charged for their services. We are grateful to Bradford people, particularly, for their unending support. Many people from overseas attend as they love Smokie so much.

“May 17 promises to be an excellent evening and a fitting tribute.”

Tributes came in from across the world for Terry Uttley when he died aged 70 in 2021, four weeks after the death of his wife, Shirley. Hundreds of people lined the streets of Ilkley, where Terry and Shirley lived for 40 years, and applauded when his funeral cortege passed through. The couple had two daughters, Holly and Lisa, four grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Terry was the last remaining original member of Smokie who was still active with the band.

The band was founded in 1964 by Alan Silson and Chris Norman, while they were at St Bede’s School in Heaton with Terry.

In 2006 Terry told the T&A: “The first couple of times they asked me to join the band I said no, I had a job as an apprentice at Fields Printers in Lidget Green which I was happy with. But the third time they asked me I said yes, and it went on from there.”

Terry, originally from Allerton, joined as bass guitarist and the band played local pubs and clubs under several names, including The Elizabethans, before signing a record deal and becoming Smokie. They had chart success in the 1970s, with hits including If You Think You Know How To Love Me, Living Next Door to Alice, Don’t Play Your Rock And Roll To Me and Oh Carol.

Smokie split in 1981 then reunited in 1986 for a fundraising concert for families of those who died in the Bradford City fire. When singer Chris Norman left he was replaced by Alan Barton, who died in 1995 when Smokie’s tour bus crashed in Germany. The band later continued with frontman Mike Craft.

Smokie sold more than 30 million records worldwide and toured extensively across Europe, the Far East, Australia and New Zealand. They were made honorary citizens of Seoul as the first Western band to sell a million singles in South Korea.

Smokie continues to tour with its current line-up.

* The Annette Fox Leukaemia Fund Gala Ball is at Craiglands Hotel, Ilkley, on Friday, May 17. For tickets email Michelle Adam at annette.fox@bthft.nhs.uk