WEST Cumbrian-born rock star Francis Dunnery returned home to Egremont to help raise funds for the town’s St Bridget’s Primary School at the weekend.
The former It Bites frontman, now based in New York, took part in a series of fundraisers in aid of the Charlie and Kathleen Dunnery Children’s Fund.
The registered charity was launched two years ago in memory of his parents and has already raised money for the West Cumberland Hospital’s children’s ward.
This year’s fundraising started with a sponsored walk round Ennerdale on Saturday.
More than 80 walkers took part, including St Bridget’s pupils and their families, Francis, his sister Fay Dunnery, Chris Difford, from the band Squeeze, Francis’s nephew John Dunnery and Wayne Wilkinson, from the popular local duo, John & Wayne.
Suzanne Croft, one of the organisers, said: “It was fabulous. We had 83 people talking part this year, which was an extra 23 on last year.”
Other fundraising activities over the weekend included golf and football tournaments, pop quiz and auction, and a concert starring John & Wayne, Chris Difford, and headliner Francis Dunnery, accompanied by David Sancious who came back from America especially for the event.
PUBLISHED OCTOBER 25, 2004
By Andrea Thompson
Published in News & Star