Photos by Marie Phillips, no reproduction without permission.
The photos show television presenter, Ross King, presenting the Birmingham charity – St Basil’s, with a cheque for £50,000 from Children in Need. It dates from October 1992. St Basil’s is a charity for young people at risk of being homeless in the West Midlands.Ross King worked on Hot Chefs , and the entertainment show, Pebble Mill, as well as linking The Morning on One.
Marie Phillips added the following information:
‘it was a grant from Children in Need to St. Basils, but for something different to their homeless projects. This was for a womens’ refuge with mostly single mothers. I remember we visited to hand over the cheque which I think was a three year grant to fund support workers.We could not identify the location for security of the residents. I was struck by the number of cctv cameras around the building (not so common in those days) and asked why they were there. Apparently abusive husbands and boyfriends would try to get to their wives and partners and the cameras were for prevention and protection. Ross King was brilliant with everyone and showed real interest and concern and said afterwards how genuinely delighted he had been to be able to bring a little light into their lives. He was another Pebble Mill Presenter always willing to help CIN and me. Happy days!’
I was in WM in the 80’s and 90’s and I remember Ross and had lunch with him one day in the canteen (it’s not a restaurant!)and I was running late. Ross was on his dessert, which consisted of something in custard but I can’t remember what. I’d got a plate of fish and chips with garden peas and running up the central aisle of the canteen, stopped short of the table to join Ross and managed to tip most of my garden peas in his custard! We still spoke!