Showbiz legend Ken Dodd to launch The Heath’s ‘Community’ Day

Comedy legend Ken Dodd will bring his special brand of humour to an exciting community open day at The Heath Business and Technical Park in Runcorn.

The much-loved Liverpool comic is sure to raise more than a few titters when he welcomes charities and voluntary groups to The Heath’s inaugural Community Open Day on Tuesday, July 19. The event will showcase the business park’s fantastic facilities and strengthen ties to local residents and groups. It will be a family affair for local hero Doddy whose nephew John Lewis is Managing Director of SOG Ltd, the owner and operator of the award-winning park which is home to more than 150 separate organisations employing a total workforce in excess of 1,700 people.

The Heath’s restaurant and event facilities have just undergone a major refurbishment costing £250,000. John Lewis says; “I have no doubt this will be a fun day and they’ll be a lot of laughter – especially with my zany uncle around. But we do have a serious message too. At The Heath we are great believers in the power and importance of the community and the need to look out for others as well as ourselves. We are very conscious that a lot of voluntary organisations do so much for so many in the region and our Community Day is our way of bringing attention to the excellent work that is being done especially in these difficult times.“

Over the years The Heath’s restaurant, meeting rooms and conference facilities have been used by a variety of different organisations as well as businesses based at the park. Events such as sports presentations, exhibitions, training days, fashion shows and awards dinners have been held by community groups as well as the Halton Chamber of Commerce and Halton Borough Council.

John Lewis adds: “The idea of the Heath Community Open Day is to offer voluntary organisations the chance to showcase what they do in an exhibition. It will give them a platform to promote their work and where possible attract support. We hope it will become an annual fixture.“

The initiative has been launched in conjunction with Halton Borough Council in a bid to help the charities and voluntary groups who will be represented. The event will commence at 11.30am and is expected to run on until late afternoon.

To commemorate the open day a small community orchard will be planted at The Heath with the Cheshire Landscape Trust providing trees, stakes and ties. Ken Dodd will plant the first tree at the orchard which will be positioned in an area of the business park that is accessible to the public. The Cheshire Landscape Trust will provide ongoing help with the management of the orchard.

I would be delighted if you can attend the event and would ask you to confirm your availability by contacting Neil Lancaster on 01928-51-5977 or e: neil.lancaster@sog.ltd.uk. If you know of a voluntary organisation who would like to exhibit please let Neil know and he will contact them to make arrangements.