By Pat Riddell
Branch Chair
On Friday 27th March we held a Soirée at St Columba’s in aid of Parkinson’s UK Chester Branch and due to the generosity of 100 people who bought tickets we raised a staggering £1200!!! Thank you to all who came and all who gave of their time and skills to voluntarily entertain us. Not forgetting our brilliant compere for the evening, our Vice Chair, John Fetherston. Thank you to those who donated raffle prizes especially Sage at Chester, Rowton Hall Hotel And Spa, S J Bebbington Butchers@threefellasburgers @sandstone @JJBarbershop, Westminster park pharmacy and many others. I am always amazed at how supportive people are to our cause and really can’t say THANK YOU enough 
The acts were wonderful and varied, brought together by our Friday Singing Group pianist Nicky Brooks. Her piano duets with Alison were beautiful and the flute and piccolo duets with Pascaline were stunning Stephen Blaikie’s monologue was very entertaining and the Cat Duet and “Three old maids from Hoole’ were hysterical! The Waverton Handbell Ringers opened the show and the audience hummed along and then the audience joined in with my brother, Mike’s, rendition of ‘A Policeman’s Lot’ at the end.
Weston Grove award winning fish and chip shop provided the fish, chips and mushy peas supper and St Columba’s were very accommodating of us, as usual. Fr William from St Columba’s joined us as our guest and also Fr Emeka who used to be Parish Priest at St Clare of Assisi Catholic Church Chester. We also welcomed Simon Eardley, Sheriff of Chester who had previously visited our Friday Singing Group and had been supportive of our efforts to see the community transport service scheme renewed for our more vulnerable members. But for me personally the star of the show was our granddaughter Josephine. She sings with amasing who unfortunately were unable to join us as planned, but Josephine very bravely agreed to sing on her own. She chose the song herself, So Easy by Olivia Dean, which was a hit in 2025 for the English singer-songwriter. Josephine received a standing ovation from my dear friends and rapturous applause from the audience which clearly surprised her, causing tears, but she was soon smiling!!! Well done Josephine and thank you for making me a very proud Gran 
