A father’s Heroes pride

ALL set . . . (back, from left) organisers Gilbert Symes and Phil Beck with Gilbert’s sons Steven and Matthew

A SELL-OUT charity performance for wounded servicemen will prove extra poignant for one Saddle-worth father compering the event on Friday.

Local brass band expert Gilbert Symes will be treading the boards, along with a whole host of acts, to raise money for the charity Help for Heroes.

But his thoughts will be with youngest son L/Cpl Matthew Symes who was deployed for a six-month stint in Afghanistan yesterday.

The event, at the Millgate Arts Centre, Delph, has had fantastic support from the local community — and will see famous folk band The Houghton Weavers take centre stage.

Mr Symes, whose three sons all serve in the British Army, thinks it should be a top priority that troops are properly looked after on their return from conflict.

He said: “I feel sometimes the Government doesn’t back the lads up as it should.

“The ones that come back in coffins are obviously beyond help, but the lads that are coming back with limbs missing or blinded, we really need to support.”

Matthew said: “It really boosts morale when you are out there. When you have got events like this happening it brings it home, it makes you realise that there are people back at home and they do care about you.”

TV star John Henshaw, star of “Early Doors”, is due to perform on the same bill as Delph’s very own member of The Magic Circle, Jack Steel, in aid of the charity.

Gilbert, who has arranged the event with friend Phil Beckwith, hopes the concert will be a light-hearted way of raising money for a serious cause and admits that he has received a lot of help.

He said: “There is not a penny being made from the event that won’t go to charity. It’s tremendous.”

Visitors will get the chance to buy the popular Help for Heroes wrist bands while some may be tempted to put in a bid for a helicopter ride, donated by Diggle-based Pennine Helicopters.