Secret Millionaire comes to Warrington

If you watch the Channel 4 show, at 9pm tonight, you will see Pimlico Plumbing boss Charlie Mullins visit three charities in the area before giving each a £20,000 grant.

He spent time at the Long Lane Garden Centre, John Holt Cancer Support Foundation and the Honey Rose Foundation in St Helens.

Charlie's story.
FOR Charlie Mullins the trip to Warrington was a real eye-opener.

The self-made plumbing magnate confesses he rarely ventures out of London and was scared of what he might find ‘up north’.

“When they said I was going to Warrington I really wasn’t looking forward to it,” he said.

“When I got there it was a very, very deprived area, very poor, unemployment, nothing for kids to do.

“I come from a rough estate in London and it took me back to my youth and made me realise that things haven’t moved on in estates, if anything they might even be worse.

“It’s disgraceful to think that people still haven’t got money, nice houses, work or anything to do.”

Charlie stayed in a ‘filthy’ house in Longford, where he caught fleas, during his week while he pretended to be an out of work plumber.

The Warrington Volunteer Centre was called in to help find him work for a documentary it was told was about volunteering.

They put him in touch with the Long Lane Garden Centre, The John Holt Cancer Support Foundation and the Honey Rose Foundation in St Helens.

Charlie Mullins films The Secret Millionaire.
But Charlie’s impressions of Warrington took a while to disperse.

“I just couldn’t believe how dangerous it was. I met kids on the street, kids of 12 who were drinking, kids telling us they were on drugs and off their heads on heroin, kids saying there’s nothing in the community, nothing to do for the youngsters.

“I met 18 and 20-year-olds who were saying to me they’re not bothered for themselves, they’re too far on, but they’re worried for the next generation.”

It took a few days of volunteering for him to stop ‘moaning’, said Charlie. “It put things in perspective. I had the problems for a week. They have them for the rest of their lives.

“I never met a bad person up there. They were the salt of the Earth but unfortunately they become the forgotten.”

The Long Lane Garden Centre.
FOR the Long Lane Garden Centre the £20,000 cash boost from Charlie Mullins will help bring the site to life.

“This site was nothing, it had no heart to it but now it’s part of the community,” said Kath Jones, the project co-ordinator.

The garden centre provides work for around 70 members with learning or physical difficulties or mental health problems.

With Charlie’s grant they can provide a proper workshop for the members to build bird boxes and other crafts.

Their current workshop is a polytunnel that is frequently vandalised so a new workshop will make all the difference.

The money will also provide a bathroom on site, which is currently served by a portable toilet, and help extend the kitchen so there is somewhere for staff to have a lunch break.

“We are hoping to be able to put on some woodwork courses within the workshop where a member of the public will be trained and support one of our guys,” said Kath.

Peter Tickle, Mike Conners, Mark Penrith and Anthony Burke show off their new bathroom suite.
While at the centre Charlie made a particular bond with Peter Tickle, once a volunteer and now a paid worker.

“He just looks after everybody. There are so many volunteers and without it so many people would just be stuck at home all day,” said Charlie.

“All they want is somebody to talk to them and show them some respect and to show they’ve got worth in life.”

But Peter has a bone to pick with him: “The only thing is, at the end where they say you can use my villa or my private plane, he said to me ‘I’ve given you fleas’.”

Since filming Charlie has agreed to continue sending regular supplies for the workshop.

* The Long Lane team will be in the Golden Square on Friday and Saturday selling their stock.

The John Holt Cancer Support Foundation.
“WHEN he handed over that cheque I just fell apart. It was just unreal.”

In fact, so stunned was Chris Holt, founder of the John Holt Cancer Support Foundation, that she still has a photocopy of Charlie’s cheque pinned to her noticeboard to remind her it was not all a dream.

“When he told us he said it was the first time he’d heard us all be quiet all week! But then it broke into floods of tears and hugs and kisses.”

Charlie’s £20,000 is being put forward as a down payment on rent for a new premises for the foundation.

It is currently based in Fairfield Community House but the building is being sold on and the charity forced to move.

The money brings them a giant step closer to completing the deal on their new building.

“It is just unbelievable that it happened to us,” said Chris, who set up the foundation after her husband John died.

“It’s all those years of hard work coming together. There are still a lot of people who don’t know we’re here and it will allow us to reach more people.”

The foundation provides practical and emtional support for people affected by cancer and their families.

Penny Holt, Sandra Wahlers, Ian Rafferty, Chris Holt, Alistair Hammond, Pam Crampton and Karen Smith at the John Holt foundation.
“It is such a unique charity and such a personal one,” said Charlie. “It is so supportive to so many people in the area. One man told me it saved his life.

“Everyone had come to terms with their problems and I’ve never heard so many people be so thankful to one person – Chris.”

Charlie has agreed to help the foundation move into their new premises and to plumb the new building for them.

The Honey Rose Foundation.
LYNN Duffy was lost for words when a multi millionaire plumbing boss handed over a cheque for £20,000.

Tireless charity worker Lynn founded the HoneyRose Foundation in St Helens in 2004, which helps make days and occasions to remember for people over 40, whether it’s a helicopter ride or attending a Westlife concert.

The windfall will help Lynn and her dedicated team provide memorable days for around 40 people with a terminal illness.

For Lynn the timing of the donation had extra significance.

“What brought a lump to my throat was thinking about my mum, who died almost a year to the day this happened.

“She once said to me that she saw the Secret Millionaire had been in Liverpool and hoped they would come here. And almost a year to the day she died, they did.”

Volunteers at the Honey Rose Foundation.
Lynn confessed she was stunned when he revealed his identity: “It’s not like me to be stuck for words, but I couldn’t say anything. It was such a surprise.

“Charlie was so lovely and down to earth. It’s brilliant news and I hope that the extra publicity will help. We work hard to keep this charity going and have already helped 480 families. This money will go to helping a few more.”

Charlie was full of praise for the work Lynn and her dedicated team achieve: “Lynn deserves a medal.

“They do special days where they give up to £800 to go and watch a football match or have a nice dinner, stay in a nice hotel, go on a helicopter ride. Minor things that mean such a lot to people.

“There was a guy there called Tony. All he wanted to do was to stay in a top hotel in Liverpool where all the Liverpool players stayed. The man was so thankful.

“For me it is the small things that this charity is doing and it means so much to people.”

Since filming Charlie has become a patron of the charity.