Ken Dodd’s legend, but work is also

ALTHOUGH Ken Dodd is well recognised for his astonishing career in show business which spans over 60 years and for his many talents as a comedian, actor, song writer and singer, very little is known about his tremendous commitment towards a wide range of charities which he refers to as his ‘Cinderella charities’, meaning those which strive to meet the real needs of local people.

His behind-the-scenes support, encouragement and donations often enables some of these organisations to survive and as chair and manager of the Canal Boat Adventure Project between 1977 and 2015 I was privileged to learn about the private and generous nature of this great man.

Although Ken Dodd launched the charity’s first canal boat, the Jubilee Mond, in 1976, it was not until the following year that a chance meeting with a group of young people from Runcorn on the Liverpool to Euston intercity train, that he was persuaded to take on the role of patron for their charity and his commitment towards this organisation has been absolute over nearly 40 years.

From launching another five canal boats to arriving at the young people’s neighbourhood recycling project in a pony and trap, Ken gave unstintingly of his time, including his attendance at National Heritage Lottery Board cheque presentations to award ceremonies for young people.

He has inspired a new and younger generation of fans.

It is a mark of young people’s respect for Ken Dodd as their patron, that one group of young people from Runcorn chose to name their new canal boat Happy Ness and their new young persons social inclusion project the Nessie Club in 2001.

As the person responsible for writing funding applications and bids, I can guarantee that Ken Dodd patronage of this charity added status and weight to these submissions and his involvement of young people in his 80th birthday celebrations, which were featured on a