A crisp, sunny evening saw the launch of the Blackpool Wyre and Fylde Sub Committee of the well-known children’s charity Variety (formerly known as The Variety Club of Great Britain) on Blackpool’s iconic North Pier. North Pier is being renovated, having been purchased recently by Peter Sedgwick – but that is another, very romantic story. Tonight we are here to meet the Chairman of the local branch of Variety – Fiona Whitworth - introduced in fine style by Blackpool’s Town Crier Barry McQueen, with Matthew Lamb on hand to serenade us with some fantastic swing songs before and after the official business of the evening.
The Variety Club of Great Britain or "Variety" as it is now called is a household name, well-known for their special Sunshine Coaches – one of which was donated recently to Redmarsh the school for children with disabilities and learning difficulties in Thornton Cleveleys – but the charity does so much more than that for disadvantaged and handicapped children- from providing special car seats and custom-built wheelchairs, to providing life-saving equipment in hospitals.
Before directing everyone present out onto the Pier for the launch of dozens of red heart balloons, Fiona thanked Councillor Alan Mathews, Deputy Mayor of Blackpool, who was accompanied by his wife, Deputy Mayoress Angela Mathews, for their support.Among others, Fiona also thanked the Sedgwick Family who not only gave the use of the North Pier for the launch party in the Costa Coffee Café but have also offered Variety the chance to hold collections during the summer shows on North Pier.
Before the release of the red balloons, two very special, gold balloons were released in loving memory of two of Blackpool’s most famous Variety supporters who have recentlydied - Pat Mancini and Frank Carson. Standing on the Pier with Blackpool Tower in the background and the sea gently lapping around us, it was a very emotional moment watching first the two gold balloons and then the mass of red heart shaped balloons flying off into the blue, Blackpool sky.
For further informationregarding Variety, please see www.varietyclub.org.uk/
For furtherinformation on what’s on at North Pier, Blackpool, please see
www.northpierblackpool.co.uk -
