A sell-out cabaret show recently held at the Bellingham Hotel on Wigan Lane raised more than £2,000 for The Christie Hospital in Manchester.

Both former Wigan councillor Jim Davies and entertainer Mike Higham received treatment for the disease before their deaths last summer.

And in Mr Higham's case, The Christie had been the focus of his own fund-raising activities for many a year, having successfully nursed him through several previous brushes with cancer.

The evening was organised by fellow regulars at the Bellingham who are also planning a little display cabinet with mementoes of their friends.

The cabaret featured the vocal harmony trio Love Supremes, comic Sean
Styles, New Faces winner Carl Ashington with a soul and Motown tributes act while the compere-vocalist – a role so ably filled in the past by Mike himself – was Frank White. A hotpot supper and raffle topped off the evening.

One of the show organisers, Barry Woolley, said: "It was an emotional but very enjoyable evening.

"We didn't need to publicise the show because it quickly sold out and it was great to be able to give so much to such a worthy cause."

Bellingham owner Arthur Silcock added: "Jim was a long-time servant to the local community through his council work and Mike helped to raise huge amounts of money for good causes, including the Christie Hospital, often through cabarets such as the one we have just had.
"They were too big local characters and shall be greatly missed."

Mr Higham, who was 66 when he died last September, was well known locally as a jazz singer, compere and charity event organiser par excellence.

He had only recently brought out a CD with the pianist Chris Lloyd and the pair could be regularly seen performing in Rigalettos at the JJB Stadium.

Coun Davies, was the same age when he too lost a battle with cancer in August last year.

He had stood in elections for the Conservatives on many occasions before finally gaining a seat on the Metro in 2002.
Councillors of all hues paid tribute to a man of great integrity and political passion.