On song for a fundraiser (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

On song for a fundraiser

9:42pm Sunday 7th September 2008

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What was I thinking of? Really!

There we were at a charity fund-raising ball in Wigan (yes, and why not?) and I started the bidding in a silent auction to try and ‘win’ a chance to be a pop star for a day in a recording studio in Manchester!

For heavens sake! Starting a pop career at 54 is stretching credibility a bit, but… all in a good cause and all that.

As the evening progressed, I kept picturing myself in front of a big microphone with big head phones on, sublimely singing away at an established hit or maybe even a catchy number of my own.

I like to think I haven't got too bad a voice!

Never mind that I’ve never written a note of music in my life, I was sure something could be worked out… and I do have that poem from school I’ve always cherished in the hope that Elton John might set it to music and produce that big one-hit wonder!

Even as the silent auction was closing I effected to baulk who I thought was my big rival for the coveted prize, still fondly imagining that big day producing my own CD.

Then, crushingly, we discovered that someone else had slipped in and pinched the prize!

All of a sudden I felt a great sense of relief that I wouldn’t have to actually go through with it and without a shadow of a doubt embarrass myself in the process!

But it had been great fun. An added spice to the evening which itself had been absolutely fabulous.

Brilliantly organised, and perfectly pitched between fun and the serious issue of raising money for the very worthy Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

Just over £10,000 was raised on the night, which I reckon was an absolutely fantastic effort by all concerned - of which there were many dedicated and devoted people to the cause.