Patrons of our appeal include:
Wyn Calvin MBE OStJ
Born in Pembrokeshire, his life-time career has been in entertainment with an international reputation as a comedian, broadcaster, lecturer, and as one of Britain’s premier pantomime performers. A “King” of the Grand Order of Water Rats and Free Man of the City of London, his involvement with a variety of charities gained him the MBE in 1989. In the 1980s, he was Chairman for Wales of the Variety Club of Great Britain. Having been invalided out of the army Wyn became part of ENSA during WW2
COLIN THACKERY
We are delighted to confirm that Korean War veteran and singer Colin Thackery has agreed to be a patron of our appeal. Colin won the 13th series of Britain's Got Talent in June 2019 and as the winner, he performed at the Royal Variety Show.
PETER PURVES
Television presenter and actor, Peter played Steven in Doctor Who during the era of the First Doctor, a role he continues to play in audio dramas for Big Finish Productions, and later became a presenter on the BBC children's programme Blue Peter, a position he held for eleven years. He has continued to make regular appearances on television, including an association with television coverage of the Crufts dog show.
JIMMY CRICKET
He was given his own television series on a show called And There's More (named after his best-known catchphrase), also notable for including the first TV appearance by Rory Bremner. He also had his own radio series for BBC Radio 2 called Jimmy's Cricket Team, written by Eddie Braben and starring Peter Goodwright, Bill Pertwee and Noreen Kershaw. He featured in The Krankies Klub alongside the Krankies and Bobby Davro. He also appeared in numerous Royal Variety Shows. He made many appearances on BBC TVs long running TV show The Good Old Days. Jimmy was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1987 when he was surprised by Eamonn Andrews in central London - the last edition that Andrews presented. Cricket was one of a number of veteran performers to appear in the video for the 2007 Comic Relief single, a cover of The Proclaimers' song "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" by Matt Lucas as Andy Pipkin and Peter Kay as Brian Potter.
Stan Streather - Winstan
Winstan has been created by Stan Streather, his likeness in looks, mannerisms and speech make him the most convincing tribute around today. He is fun, easy to work with and brings his character brilliantly to life, entertaining guests in any situation. Based in London, near to Heathrow, he is available for appearances globally. He is happy to tailor any appearances, speeches etc to meet your specific requirements and always enjoys working alongside other entertainers and performers.
Linda Regan
Linda Regan actress and author, who has appeared on television, film, radio and on stage. She is best known for her role as Yellowcoat April in the British holiday camp sitcom Hi-de-Hi!.
Linda made her television debut in an episode of the popular ITV sitcom On the Buses in 1970, shortly after, she appeared in the film version of the same name. This was followed by roles in well known programmes such as Doctor at Large, Softly, Softly: Task Force, Special Branch and Dixon of Dock Green. In the mid-1970s, Regan appeared in several sex comedy films including Carry On England, Confessions of a Pop Performer and Adventures of a Private Eye. She also starred in the high profile films The Hiding Place and Quadrophenia and had a main role in the hospital drama General Hospital from 1976 to 1977. Linda appeared in the first episode of popular drama series Minder in 1979 starring George Cole and Dennis Waterman and played a Swedish pop star in Bergerac, and followed this with a main role in the holiday camp sitcom Hi-de-Hi! as April, a character she would play from 1984 until the show's end in 1988.
After appearances in Birds of a Feather, thriller Framed and hard hitting crime drama The Knock, Regan starred in five episodes of The Bill before appearing as Harry's mother in all 4 series of children's drama series Harry and Cosh from 1999 to 2003. She continues her career on both stage and screen, including Holby City, Doctors and Run for Your Wife, as well as appearing in several short films and commercials, and writing award winning crime novels
Brian Murphy
Brian Murphy, an English actor and comedian, best known as the henpecked husband George Roper in the popular sitcom Man About the House and its spin-off series George and Mildred, and Stan the shop owner in the children's series Wizadora. He is also known for playing Alvin Smedley in Last of the Summer Wine.
The subject of This Is Your Life in 1997, Brian continued to appear regularly on television, most notably as "Alvin Smedley" in Last of the Summer Wine from 2003 to 2010, that was promoted by a cast return to Rose Theatre site and also with roles in On Your Way, Riley (1985) as Arthur Lucan, Lame Ducks (as a private investigator); The Bill (as a drunken tramp dressed as an elf at Christmas); comedy series Pond Life, an animation series, as Len Pond, the father of protagonist Dolly Pond (Sarah Ann Kennedy), One Foot in the Grave starring Richard Wilson (playing a character called Mr Foskett);, Brookside; and as a shopkeeper called Stan in the pre-school children's TV series Wizadora. In 2010 he appeared in an episode of Hustle called "The Thieving Mistake". He has more recently made appearances in comedy shows The Catherine Tate Show, This is Jinsy and Benidorm. Brian can also be seen in all three episodes of the ITV comedy The Booze Cruise, playing Maurice. He also appeared as Frank Dobson in The Cafe from 2011 and 2013. He also appeared in the Channel 4 comedy Man Down as music teacher Frank Field-Williams in the 2013 Christmas special.