A surprise birthday performance in the grounds of St Catherine’s for patient Cherry

The grounds of St Catherine’s Hospice were filled with the sound of jazz this week when a patient received a special surprise visit from one of her favourite performers.

Cherry Trotter’s partner arranged for Lancashire singer and ukulele player Anthony Mason to give her and family members a private rendition of popular ‘hot’ and traditional jazz numbers in the gardens of the Lostock Hall hospice.

Vic Cox wanted to do something special for Cherry’s 69^th birthday, and following a family party in the hospice’s garden room on Sunday, with food provided by the charity’s Mill Outside catering team, he organised for Anthony to call by on Wednesday.

Vic, from Astley Village, Chorley, said: “We had planned to hire Anthony’s band, Café Society, for Cherry’s 70^th birthday next year. We wanted to have a big party but sadly that won’t happen now. I thought the next best thing would be for him to come to St Catherine’s for her 69^th instead.

“This turned out to be great though – it was a bonus that it ended up being more of a personal performance. She likes his sense of humour and she really enjoyed it.”

Vic and Cherry met in Cornwall in 2011, and following stints of work around the globe, Cherry decided to settle in Chorley to be closer to her son, daughter, and two grandchildren.

Cherry trained as a teacher in Chorley in the 1970s and worked at Adlington St Paul’s for 18 years from 1980.

She wanted an ‘adventure’ so worked in Cairo, Egypt, as well as Germany, and even the prestigious Purcell School for Young Musicians in Hertfordshire teaching academic subjects, before eventually retiring in 2014.

She was diagnosed with terminal peritoneal cancer six weeks ago; a rare form of cancer which develops in a thin layer of tissue that lines the abdomen.

Speaking of the surprise birthday performance, she said: “It was unbelievable – I never thought I would see Anthony sing again.

“He’s such a character and a fun person. To have him here at the hospice was just wonderful.”

Anthony, from Appley Bridge, who declined payment for his time, said: “It’s a shame that it was under such circumstances, but it was a pleasure to do and very flattering to be asked.

“I got quite emotional when I first started singing, and I thought my voice was going to go, because I could see that Cherry was emotional.”

He added: “I’ve never been to St Catherine’s before and I didn’t know what to expect; I thought I would be stood in her room and she would be in bed.

“But we were lucky with the weather and the grounds of the hospice are so beautiful, so it was a lovely setting to be able to do it all outside.”

Stephen Greenhalgh, chief executive of St Catherine’s said: “Anthony’s terrific renditions epitomise what hospices are all about, making life better than people imagined was possible.”

• Anthony is due to perform at the Chorley Flower Show on July 30 and 31.

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