Sir Ken’s lifetime of work for charities

SIR Ken Dodd’s investiture at the Palace last Thursday was followed by a surprise Champagne tea party at the nearby Rubens at the Palace: as former patron of the Canal Boat Adventure Project between 1977 and early in 2015, Sir Ken worked hard to ensure that young people from Halton had the best possible opportunities and in 2003, he was delighted when one group of youngsters from Runcorn named their new project ‘the Nessie Club’ in his honour.

Despite his support for nearly one hundred local charities across the country and particularly in Merseyside, Sir Ken Dodd gave freely of his time, always willing to listen to young people and to share memories with their parents and grandparents: his determination to improve the life chances of people with poor health or who needed sup- port from absolute.

The fact that he took on the role of patron of this Runcorn based charity was simply down to a chance meeting on the train in 1977, with a group of young people from the former Southgate Youth Club who were on their first visit to London.

I remember Graham Lewis and Sean Barlow taking video footage of Ken Dodd on that auspicious journey.

From launching boats to launching the young persons first poetry anthology on television, and his involvement of 30 Nessie Club members in his 80th birthday celebrations which were featured on BBC television, Sir Ken Dodd’s involvement in young people’s lives has built up a store of happy memories.

Two former Nessie Club members who each achieved first class honours charities, was degrees and student of the year awards at their respective universities forwarded their congratulations to their former patron.

Jordan Harvey, one of the Nessie Club founders in 2002, sent a message from Toronto in Canada, where he is now successfully employed and Tom Sentia, who achieved excellent reviews for his acting role at the Epstein Theatre in Liverpool in 2016, and who now leaves for a 12 month acting role in Japan congratulated him also.

These are just two of the Nessie Club members who benefited from Sir Ken Dodd’s support and kindness over many years.

It was a great privilege for me to be invited to Sir Ken’s celebrations in London and along with his nephew John Lewis, MD of the Heath Business Park, and his family, we had a great day.