TWO community fundraising groups are teaming up to put on a charity ball in memory of a popular Army veteran.
Dubbed Tiny’s Event, the ball at Greta Bridge’s Morritt Hotel will celebrate the life of Anthony ‘Tiny’ Power and raise cash for the Royal British Legion and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance Service.
Mr Power, a former colour sergeant for the King’s Own Royal Border Regiment, was well known for fundraising activities before his death in January last year.
Close friend Chris Moss, a dale farmer and tattoo artist, has teamed up with Tiny’s widow, Chris, to stage what they hope will be an annual event to raise cash for good causes and recognise others who do wonderful things for their communities.
This year it will celebrate the work of Woodland Community Group, which organises the upper Gaunless Valley’s Farmer Christmas event, and its founder Becky Land.
Coincidently, the festive event was also started in memory of a loved one.
Mr Moss said: “Becky and I are trying to co-ordinate between the Farmer Christmas charity and this event, so we have got our charities which we are raising for, but we saw an opportunity to pull in the Woodland set-up.”
Mrs Power said the charities were chosen because of the work done by the Royal British Legion for veterans and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance because the service had come to her husband’s aid in his hour of need.
She added: “In the 1990s Anthony had a really bad car accident, which resulted in lots of operations. Over that time he had three hip-replacements. Anthony passed away suddenly while convalescing at home following hip surgery.
“He was six foot five tall; he was big in stature, but he was six foot five in character as well. He was larger than life. There were lots of things he couldn’t do anymore, like rugby and boxing, but it didn’t stop him living his life to the best of his ability.”
Mr Moss said his friend had been involved in a lot of charity work in Richmond and together they had started the Cup Cake Club that evolved into a tattoo convention at Catterick Garrison which raised about £30,000 for Help For Heroes. Mr Power was also heavily involved with Richmond Round Table, and served as the club’s president for a year.
Mr Moss added: “All I want to do is carry on what he did, binding territory together in Richmond with Barnard Castle and Teesdale.”
Mrs Land said it was wonderful for Woodland Community Group to be linked with Tiny’s Event and the lead tractor at this year’s Farmer Christmas would carry Anthony Power’s name. Part of the cash raised by the festive tractor run will also be given to the Royal British Legion in memory of Mr Power.
The ball takes place on June 8. Tickets can be ordered from Andrea Smith by email an
Anyone who can donate an item for the charity auction on the night should email christine.power27@outlook.
com.
