A multitude of celebrities gathered at Newcastle’s City Hall on 7 February in the biggest Sunday for Sammy concert ever, raising almost £50,000. Bucket collections on the night raised over £2500, £50 more than last year.
The fifth in a series of bi-annual sell out shows, Sunday for Sammy 2010 attracted an all-star line up including Kevin Whatley, Timothy Spall, Christopher Fairbank, Denise Welch, Brendan Healy, Ray Jackson, Billy Mitchell, Andrea McLean, Kevin Kennedy, Gaynor Faye, Angela Lonsdale and Kathryn Tickell.
Performing two shows featuring music, stand-up comedy and sketches, the concert celebrated northern wit and everything Geordie.
The audience was delighted by a surprise appearance by Geordie legend Mark Knopfler who said “It’s a delight to be part of such a wonderful event – made special because it’s part of coming home”.
Hayley McKay, a recipient of a £1000 grant from the fund said, “I will remember the night for ever. Performing with such big stars in front of a fantastic audience was amazing”.
Ray Laidlaw, former Lindisfarne drummer and producer of the show said: “Sunday for Sammy 2010 has become a celebration of northern talent and an unmissable part of the event calendar. It regularly sells out 4,000 seats with very little publicity and without the audience knowing exactly which performers will be taking part. The people came because they know it is going to be a great night.
“All of the celebrities take time out of their busy schedules to take part in the show that had the biggest turn out of North East talent we have ever had.”
Local bands The Known World and The Mosiacs, both successful recipients of grants from the fund, performed alongside some of the region’s biggest stars”.
The performance raises money for the Sammy Johnson Memorial Fund set up by Auf Weidersehen Pet co-stars, Tim Healy and Jimmy Nail, in memory of their close friend Sammy Johnson, best known for his portrayal as ‘Stick’ in the Spender TV series. Sammy died suddenly in 1998.
The fund, which benefits creative talent on Tyneside where Sammy was born and raised, has already raised over £200,000 and donated over £115,000 in grants.
Grants are awarded twice a year and since the fund was established there have been 155 recipients. All proceeds from the show will go to the Sammy Johnson Memorial Fund to provide funding for talented individuals like Sammy to develop their performing skills.
The Sammy Johnson Memorial Fund is administered by the Community Foundation for Tyne and Wear and Northumberland. The Foundation provides a service to families, individuals and companies in the region who want to make a lasting difference to the communities in which they live and work. It manages charitable funds on their behalf for specific areas and interest, some of which have been established through legacies or in memory of a loved one.
To find out more about the Sammy Johnson Memorial Fund, how to make a donation or how to apply for a grant contact the Community Foundation on
0191 222 0945 or visit www.sundayforsammy.org
As in previous years’ shows, the event will be released on DVD later this year.
For further information and pictures: Jo Beddows
Account Manager
Hilary Florek PR
Tel: 0191 285 7100
Mob: 07860 601434
