1. Watford Mencap has had a welcome boost
to its funds after hosting a star-studded
charity golf day, organised by star of the
small and big screenWarren Clarke.
Thecharitygolfday,heldlastmonthatBeaconsfield
golf course, aimed to raise £10,000 for the Watford
Mencap Children’s Centre in St Albans Road, north
Watford, with Dalziel and Pascoe star Warren Clarke
joined by a whole host of celebrities for a round of golf
on the 18-hole course, followed by an auction, dinner
and dancing.
This is the second year thatWarren, who as well as
manyTVappearanceshasalsohadfilmrolesincluding
in A Clockwork Orange and Crusoe, has organised
the golf day in aid of Watford Mencap and My News
caught up with him before he headed out on to the
green to find out why the Mencap Children’s Centre
has come to mean so much to him.
“I’ve organised various golf events in the past
and when Watford Mencap approached me about
organising one for them a couple of years ago and I
was pleased to get involved.
“I visited the Children’s Centre last year and met
the kids there. It was great to see the work that they
do and how the cash raised benefits the people who
need it most. I hope to be able to return to the centre
soon to present a cheque for the total amount raised
today.”
The charity golf day saw 16 teams of three taking
part in this year’s event, with each one joined by a
celebrity team-mate. Celebrities showing off their golf
swing on the day along with Warren Clarke included
Dennis Waterman, former world light-heavyweight
boxing champion John Conteh and former England
and Watford FC footballing legend Luther Blissett.
Another former Watford FC player, Tommy Mooney,
who now plays in Spain, flew in especially for the
event and said he was delighted to lend his support
to such a worthwhile cause.
The event, which as well as a round of golf also
included evening entertainment with a Tom Jones
impersonator, comedians, auction, dinner and
dancingtolivemusicfrombandGrandCentral,hoped
to raise thousands of pounds for the Watford charity
which works with people with learning disabilities,
their families and carers. However, Warren was keen
to stress that the day was as much about having fun
as raising money and that in these tough economic
times any amount raised would be beneficial to the
Children’s Centre.
“It’s important not to get greedy with these
things,”Warren told My News. “I hope that everyone
involved today goes out there and has good fun,
because that’s what it’s all about. Hopefully people
will put their hand in their pocket along the way and
we can raise a few pounds for the charity.”
Warren, who will be appearing in a new comedy
series called Grounded for the BBC this autumn, was
also modest when asked about his own golfing skills,
saying: “I’ve been playing golf for 20 years or so but
I’m certainly no Tiger Woods. It’s all about the crack,
the winning doesn’t matter.”
While it was the taking part that counted,
the atmosphere on the course did inevitably get
competitive on the day, with Tommy Mooney and
his team-mates Chris Mellor, Roy Rowland and Colin
Gray who lifted the winner’s trophy.
All the money raised from the Warren Clarke’s
charity golf day will go directly to Watford Mencap
Children’s Centre in north Watford, which supports
around 150 children with learning and physical
disabilities.
FundingManagerVeronicaChamberlainexplained
what fundraising events like this mean to the charity.
“The Children’s Centre offers a lifeline to the parents
andcarersofchildrenwhohaveadisability.It’sdifficult
enough bringing up a child but those with learning
and sometimes also physical disabilities demand even
more of your time.
“We provide an after-school club five evenings
a week, plus a Saturday club, youth club and holiday
playschemes.Justoverhalfofourcostsarecoveredby
Hertfordshire County Council, which leaves us with a
big gap to fill to be able to keep offering these services
tothecommunityandsowearetremendouslygrateful
to Warren Clarke for hosting this event on our behalf
and to all the sponsors for their generosity.”
Next year the charity will celebrate its 60th
anniversary with a Diamond Jubilee Ball. The event
willtakeplaceattheWatfordHiltonHotelonSaturday
29th January and tickets are available now by calling
Gill on 07785 593306 or email: djb2011tickets@
yahoo.co.uk
by Kelly Lavender
Images: SKM Studio Corporate Photography.
SKM Studio Copyright ©2010
Celebrities tee off for
Dennis Waterman, Warren Clarke, golfer Ian Proddow and comedian Jerry Stevens
WatfordLegendLutherBlissettwithKeithO’Keefe
Watford Mencap Funding Manager Veronica
Chamberlain with Tommy Mooney