A group of Barrow DJs has presented more than £1,000 to the Bay Hospitals Charity after setting out to raise funds for Furness General Hospital in memory of a well–known Barrow entertainer.
Stuart Salt was a well-known DJ in the town for 40 years. Stuart’s nephew, Andy Naylor, along with fellow DJs Ronnie Rayner, Phil Anderson, Richard Allen and Chris Woodburn set up the Barrow Boogie nights group to host community fund-raising events in his memory.
In early 2020 the group held a ‘70s and ‘80s Rock Night, followed by a socially-distanced ‘Rock and Roll Bingo’ night when Covid restrictions were reduced during the summer.
Barrow Boogie Nights raised £1,125 for Bay Hospitals Charity through its events in 2020. Combined with donations from previous events, the group’s fund-raising total for Bay Hospitals Charity now stands at nearly £4,000.
The money was donated to Bay Hospitals Charity for use by the Stroke and Oncology Wards at Furness General Hospital.
Andy said: “There’s not one of us in the team who hasn’t known someone who has used the Oncology unit. We always keep the hospital as one of the charities we support – it’s about giving something back to the community.
“I’d like to thank Rick and Jacky Lucas for letting us use Manhattan’s nightclub in Barrow free of charge and DJ Murry Mint for appearing at the show.”
Andy continues working under the ‘Touchline Disco’ name used by his uncle since the ‘70s, and still uses authentic vintage disco equipment from the ‘70s and ‘80s.
He said: “Stuart worked at all the clubs in town as well as further afield in places like Manchester and Blackpool. When I was 10 or 11 and big enough to carry disco gear around I started helping and I’ve just carried on now.”
Andy, who works as the pilot boat skipper at the Port of Barrow, is already getting ideas together for when Covid restrictions are lifted and he can start holding more fund-raising events for the charity.
Bay Hospitals Charity funds the latest equipment for University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust to help make patients more comfortable and ensure they get the best possible care and treatment.
Professor Mike Thomas, Chair of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We’re so grateful to Andy and the rest of the Barrow Boogie Nights team for this fantastic fund-raising effort.
“It’s wonderful to see Stuart’s legacy live on, both through his love of music and the support that he has inspired for Furness General Hospital.”
To donate and support your local NHS hospital, contact Bay Hospitals Charity on 01524 516064 or visit www.bayhospitalscharity.org