Royal Variety Charity
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| Founded | 1908 |
|---|---|
| Location |
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Area served | UK |
Key people | Chairman Giles Cooper |
| Website | royalvarietycharity |
Formerly called |
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The Royal Variety Charity is a British charity based in Twickenham, Middlesex, England. It is dedicated to giving support to those who have professionally served the entertainment industry and find themselves sick, impoverished or elderly.
The charity is believed to be one of the few charities in the UK that has an unbroken line of patronage from the reigning monarch since George V in the early twentieth century. Queen Elizabeth II is the current sole life-patron of the charity.[1]
Established in 1908, the charity was originally called the Variety Artistes' Benevolent Fund, and then in 1971 the Entertainment Artistes' Benvolent Fund and then in June 2015, was officially awarded the title and name of the Royal Variety Charity.[2]
The charity provides residential and nursing care for eldely entertainers at its own care home, Brinsworth House in Twickenham and also provides a nationwide grant scheme for those living in their own homes, of any age, living anywhere in the UK.[3]
Brinsworth House
- For more detailed information on the Royal Variety Charity's care home, see Brinsworth House.
Well known past residents of Brinsworth House have included:
- Jack Wilson (died 1970), of Wilson, Keppel and Betty fame
- Hylda Baker (died 1986)
- Charlie Drake[4] (died 2006)
- Alan Freeman MBE[4] (died 2006)
- John Hewer, best known for his role as Captain Birdseye (died 2008)
- Dame Thora Hird[4] (died 2003)
- Kathy Kirby (died 2011)
- Mick McManus (died 2013)
- Emily Perry[4] (died 2008)
- Ben Warriss (died 1993)
- Norman Wisdom (died 2010)
- Derek Cooper, journalist, broadcaster and food specialist (died April 2014)
Current residents include:
- Richard O'Sullivan
- Steve Clark of The Clark Brothers
- Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson
- Alexander Kok
- Robin Stewart
Royal Variety Performance
- For more detailed information on the Royal Variety Charity's annual fundraiser, see Royal Variety Performance.
The Royal Variety Charity has organised its own annual fund-raising event called the Royal Variety Performance since 1912, which is attended by the monarch or other senior members of the British Royal Family.
References
- ^ "Royal Variety Patrons".
- ^ "EABF changes name to Royal Variety Charity".
- ^ "Royal Variety Criteria of Support".
- ^ a b c d Mario Cacciottolo (1 March 2007). "The show goes on for retired stars". BBC News. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
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