Charities boosted by show’s record pay-out

WINDFALL . . . (from left) Malcolm Hill, President of Saddleworth Rotary Club, presents a cheque for £2,500 to Barry Ulyatt, volunteer co-ordinator at Dr Kershaw’s Hospice, and Peter Snow, vice-chairman of fund-raising for Christie’s Oldham, receives a cheque for £2,500 from Philip Hibbert, President of Oldham Metro Rotary Club, part of the proceeds from the Saddleworth Summer Show

TWO Oldham charities have received a windfall from the organisers of the hugely-successful Saddleworth Summer Show.

They are the first to benefit from the event which devotes all its efforts to raising money for local good causes.

Dr Kershaw’s Hospice and Christie’s Oldham appeal both received cheques for £2,500 each from show hosts Saddleworth and Oldham Metro Rotary Clubs.

There was a bumper turn out for the area’s flagship event, which was sponsored by Veolia Environmental Services and the Oldham Evening Chronicle.

Last year, the show raised more than £8,000 for distribution to needy causes, but the thousands who attended this year’s sunshine-packed day boosted the figure to a record amount.

Show director Gordon Russell revealed a staggering £18,000 was raised and the pay-outs were the first of many that would benefit local charities.

Mr Russell said: “It was a remarkably successful day thanks to the massive support from our sponsors, everyone involved in organising the event itself, and the kind-hearted public who turned out to support it.”

At one point, queues attending the show stretched for more than half a mile from the Churchill playing fields at Greenfield.

The cheques were presented to the two organisations at Saddleworth Rotary Club’s headquarters at the White Hart at Lydgate.

Peter Snow, from Christie’s, said the money would go towards the Oldham appeal which aims to raise £100,000 for the borough’s new cancer centre.

“It will help care for up to 70 people a day,” he said. “The money will be a great help.”

Barry Ulyatt, volunteer co-ordinator for Royton’s Dr Kershaw’s Hospice, said they needed to raise £1.6 million a year to cover running costs. “This money will provide relief for us,” he added.

Malcolm Hill, newly-elected president of Saddleworth Rotary Club, praised Mr Russell, a member of Oldham Metro, for his efforts. “The results have been excellent,” he said.

And Oldham Metro’s president, Philip Hibbert, said the show had proved both rotary clubs could work together to achieve a common aim.

“The event has fostered excellent relationships and friendships between our clubs,” he declared.

Martin Curtois, marketing director of Veolia Environmental Services, who attended the event with Bryan Pinder, the company’s UK landfill manager, said: “It really was a superb event held with the best local traditions.”

Oldham solicitor John Ainley, a member of Saddleworth Rotary, is show director for next year’s event which will be staged on Sunday, July 13, at Churchill playing fields, Greenfield.