Well-known actors, singers and musicians raise the roof for Wigan school's virtual fund-raising concert

Familiar faces made sure they hit all the right notes when they took part in a fund-raising concert organised by their former school.
Actor Carley Stenson in the concertActor Carley Stenson in the concert
Actor Carley Stenson in the concert

More than 30 ex-pupils and staff members from St Peter’s Catholic High School in Orrell agreed to perform in a show broadcast online to support two good causes.

Among them were former Hollyoaks stars Carley Stenson and Helen Noble, Niamh Lynch from BBC1’s Normal People, well-known local musicians Andy Mack and Tom Houghton, and band Quaintest Show On Earth.

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There were also a host of other performers, including former students now attending LIPA and other performing arts schools, an opera singer who has performed around the country and twins who now live in Stockholm.

The concert was organised by deputy headteacher Neil Ashton, who wanted to lift the spirits of the school community during the coronavirus pandemic.

He had the idea after seeing another former pupil Matt Ashton, who is now a teacher at The Westleigh School, sing from the roof of his home in Aspull for both his neighbours and thousands of people watching online.

Mr Ashton said: “While I was watching I thought it would be great if we could do something similar. I have worked at the school for 20 years and we have a lot of talented ex-pupils.

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“I ran the idea by staff and got some calls out. We were inundated with people willing to support us.”

Each person filmed their own performance at home and it was edited together by the school’s IT manager Paul Sharpe.

After being promoted on St Peter’s Facebook page, the full concert was shown online, with more than 2,000 people watching it live.

It proved to be such a hit that the school has smashed its £500 fund-raising target and has now surpassed £3.500.

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Mr Ashton was delighted with the response from the school community, which he said was like a family.

He said: “It was a much bigger success than we thought it would be, I think it reinforces what St Peter’s is about - real community spirit.

“We have had some lovely messages from people and the money raised far exceeded what we thought we would get.”

The proceeds will go to Wigan-based charity Joining Jack, which funds research into Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and former deputy headteacher Mark Keating, who taught at the school for more than 20 years and is currently undergoing rehabilitation following a serious stroke last year.

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Mr Ashton said: “We had a football tournament for him last year, but can’t do that now because of the situation, so thought this would be a way to support him.”

The school regularly supports Joining Jack and members of staff recently raised money for the charity by taking on the 2.6 Challenge - where participants did activities based on the numbers 2.6 or 26 on the weekend that the London marathon had initially been due to take place.

The concert is now available to watch on YouTube, via the school’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Money can still be donated to the appeal hereA message from the Editorial Director, Gillian Parkinson:

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