The Press Launch                                        

The Fund held its Press Launch on 12 October in the Salon of Avenue House. Three special visitors helped launch the appear: Lynsey De Paul, song-writer and pop star who spoke about Spike from a fellow professional's viewpoint; Jane Milligan, speaking about her father from the family point of view; and John Somerville, the sculptor, whose brief was to show the model of the statue and to explain how it would be made. Janett Durrant and Bill Tyler also spoke welcoming the concept of the statue being placed at Avenue House. David Smith was able announce that the Fund had already received over £3,000 in donations - although there was still a long way to go before we reached the target of £50,000!

Reporters from the Hendon Times and Barnet Press were present to record what was said and done and we are grateful to both papers who have shown consistent interest in our work. We were delighted too to welcome 'Junior Reporters' from Manorside School, Our Lady of Lourdes School and Holy Trinity School. These young people came armed with notebooks and pencils and a host of very interesting questions! They were a credit to their schools. There were also two film crews at work: one making a video film about life at Avenue House, and the other, from Australia, making a film about Spike through the eyes of Jane and many others who knew him.

The airwaves were also busy that day: John was interviewed on the LBC 'Breakfast Show' at 6.55am, Jane by Nick Ferrari later in the morning, and Lynsey by Southern Counties Radio at lunchtime. Jonathan Coleman ('Jono' to his fans) gave us two plugs during his morning programme on Heart FM.

 click here to see what the papers say    

Our Patrons

Jane Milligan
Laura Milligan
Silé Milligan
Katie Boyle
John Cleese
Jonathan Coleman
Barry Cryer
Lynsey de Paul
Barbara Dickson
Sir Ranulph Fiennes
Michael Gerson
Terry Gilliam
Barry Humphries
Kathy Lette
Maureen Lipman
Joanna Lumley
Sir Paul McCartney
Roger McGough
Denis Norden
Peter O'Toole
Michael Palin
Sir Michael Parkinson
Sarah Sellers
Sir Terry Wogan
Bill Wyman
more ...