Bert inspires burlesque show

A grandfather from Oldham is the inspiration for a burlesque show to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society.

Bert Jones was born and raised in Oldham and served with the West Yorkshire Police before transferring to Greater Manchester, serving in Oldham and Saddleworth until retirement. Eight years ago, he developed Alzheimer’s when he was 68, and is now in a care home in West Yorkshire. His granddaughter, Lucie Evans, has been inspired by the care he has received and the help given to his wife, and has decided to organise a burlesque show at Holmfirth Hippodrome to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society.

She said: “Burlesque was quite a taboo subject when it first hit theatres.

“This is how I feel Alzheimer’s is sometimes addressed now, with not many people knowing about it or just simply turning a blind eye, so there seemed to be a strong link between the two.”

Tickets are £10 and available from www.picturedrome.net.