Charity has ball in £136k birthday tribute to boss
ACELEBRATORY ball to commemorate the 50th birthday of a late entrepreneur has helped raise £136,000 for a children’s charity.
Peter Cordwell, affectionately known as ‘Creamy’, was involved in many community projects and charity efforts, including raising thousands of pounds for Springhill Hospice and supporting Rochdale In Bloom.
The Hard Hats for Charity Ball marked the businessman’s milestone birthday on April 26 and raised money for Jolly Josh, a charity close to Peter’s heart.
Alison Mcguigan, Peter’s sister, said: “Peter was a very charitable man.
“He was generous, goodhearted, funny and he was a true character.
“We decided as a family to do a ball and I came up with the theme Neverland because he was called Peter and we always laughed at the fact that he was like a child that never grew up.”
The extravagant party took place at the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel in Manchester on Saturday, April 23.
Among the 460 guests were members of local business who knew Peter including Graham Poole Road Transport, Kerf Developments and Russell Homes.
An impressive eight-foot alligator and a 20-foot pirate ship brought the room to life
GC Demolition, Lancashire Law and Kerf Development sponsored the dazzling event featuring a champagne reception and three-course meal.
Entertainment included music from Shakermaker and a Peter Pan-themed performance, featuring the song “Don’t Say Goodbye” as a video of Peter was played in tribute.
The father-of-three from Heywood was the business owner of PGC Demolition and Creamy Crete, and owned many properties, including the site where local motorbike group MT Heads hosted rallies and Collop Gate Farm where he did festivals for veterans.
Peter died aged 48 after a fatal heart attack when confronting thieves on his property at Collop Gate Farm.
One of the 45 tables had
Peter and his father Melvin’s photos with a quote from Peter Pan near them.
A lavish raffle and auction rounded off the evening with prizes including a pair of one carat diamond earrings, a 15 inch TV, an ipad, plus a ‘Creamy extravaganza’ which included a model Creamy Crete truck, a Creamy teddy bear made out of some of Peter’s clothes and a surprise box filled with his favourite things.
Carole and James Kelly founded Jolly Josh in 2017, which was named after their son who had extensive brain damage as a result of Mitochondrial Disease, after discovering that there were no groups for young disabled children in Rochdale.
Peter generously allowed the charity to stay rent free at his Ensor Mill site in Castleton.
The stay-and-play sessions were set up by Jolly Josh to connect families together, provide support and eliminate isolation, especially for children with disabilities and special needs.
The premises at Ensor Mill is fully accessible for a
P . range of needs and disabilities with specialist interactive sensory equipment for children and their families and was due to open on Saturday, April 30.