Stars come out for good cause

More well-known showbiz names have been lined-up to appear at a village pub to help to raise money for charity.

Jazz and blues singer Elkie Brooks will return to play a second concert at the Durham Ox, Orston, later this year.

Former Spandau Ballet frontman, now a solo star, Tony Hadley, has agreed to a performance and a star from the hit 1991 film The Commitments has also been lined-up to appear.

They have been booked by the pub’s owners, Mr and Mrs Mark Liley, as part of ongoing efforts to raise money in memory of their son.

Ollie Liley (14) died from a rare brain condition, adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) which is caused by a breakdown of myelin, a protective nerve coating, two years ago.

Mr and Mrs Liley founded Oliver’s Army to raise money for research into the condition in Europe.

Any profit from the pub goes to the charity.

Research into the condition is carried out at the Max-Planck Institute in Guttingen, Germany.

The couple have worked tirelessly since the charity was set up in August 2006 and have so far raised £160,000.

They organise other events throughout the year and all profits from the pub go to the charity.

Mr Liley is a fan of The Commitments film so booked Dave Finnegan, who played the part of Mickah Wallace, the drummer, to perform at the pub.

Dave now tours with his own band and will play to around 150 people at the venue on August 2.

Mrs Gail Liley said after the success of her performance last year, singer, Elkie Brooks would return later this year and the former lead singer of Spandau Ballet, Tony Hadley, would also be playing at the pub.

Mrs Liley said: “We have got a busy year ahead. We have had a fantastic year. The pub, which we took over in 2006, is really taking off.

“People have been very supportive. They realise what we have given up over the last few years.

“It’s not like we have just let Ollie pass away. We are committed to raising the money.”