Fans tackle cancer with paint
THEIR friendship has been cemented through a love of football and now big-hearted Newcastle United fans have shown their softer side.
And, as die-hard Toon supporters brush shoulders with soccer legends of yesteryear, they decided to help a charity ran by former Rangers and Scottish international player Willie Henderson.
Geordie members of the Fairs Club, set up to remember the Magpies’ glory days, had their heartstrings tugged when Willie’s daughter Michelle was diagnosed with cervical cancer in October 2010.
She fought the disease for two years but died on October 1, her 28th birthday.
Now the Fairs Club have donated three original paintings of Scottish football greats to be auctioned off to raise money for the Michelle Henderson Cervical Cancer Trust.
The idea came from Fairs Club founder member Bill Gibbs and club secretary Harry Watson.
It was when new member Davey Brown joined the club in the summer and revealed he was a portrait painter that their brains started working overtime.
And they asked the 50-year-old to work on three paintings of Scottish football heroes Willie Henderson, Willie Johnston and Colin Stein to be donated.
Earlier this month club members, joined by club president and Chronicle columnist John Gibson, went to Falkirk and met the ex-Rangers men, along with ex-Newcastle players Jim Scott and Tommy Gibb, at the Ochiltree Social Club to donate the gifts.
Dad-of-four Davey, 50, of Forest Hall, North Tyneside, said: “I was a painter and decorator and about five years ago I swapped big brushes for little brushes and became a painter, mainly portraits.
“I joined the Fairs Club in the summer and was asked to do three paintings to be given to Willie to donate to the trust.”
“I like to do my bit for charity and was told how much Willie appreciated them,” added Davey, who is also writing a book on the season the Magpies won the Fairs Cup in 1969.
Willie will now auction them off to make funds for the charity set up in his daughter’s memory.
Willie, 73, said: “I can’t tell you how grateful I am. The Geordies are so good, really generous. Michelle’s Trust has made almost £250,000 and £172,000 has been spent on equipment in four hospitals which have benefited the gynaecology and cervical cancer departments. The rest of the money will help continue to buy more equipment.
“The paintings were brilliant and they will be auctioned off to raise further funds for my daughter’s trust. I can’t thank them enough.”
Harry Watson, of Wallsend, said: “To see Willie’s face when we gave him the paintings was fantastic. He was so grateful and really appreciated what we did. He is a genuine fella and we were delighted that we handed over Davey’s paintings – although Davey couldn’t make it himself.
“The paintings will be auctioned off up in Scotland as they will make much more money in Scotland because these ex-footballers are like Gods up there.”
Bill, of Wallsend, said: “Davey’s work is absolutely superb and Willie was delighted with the three paintings. Davey did a marvellous job but he couldn’t make it up to Falkirk to present them himself. However, we had a great day and Willie really appreciated what we did.
“Willie is a lovely man and were only too happy to help.”
For details of how to donate to the trust, visit www. michellehendersoncervicalcancertrust.co.uk or for more information visit https://en-gb.facebook.com/ MichelleHendersonCervicalCancerTrust/