Author Jeffrey Archer has thrown the book at rallying the local troops to help sell out a gala night in support The Royal Marsden Hospital.
Lord Archer (of Weston-super-Mare) will take to the stage at Cadogan Hall next Monday (20th October) to give a reading at a special event to mark the 90th anniversary of the the Friends of the Royal Marsden volunteers.
The event has already sold more 300 tickets, but there are still 100 up for grabs. ‘I want to do all I can to help make this a complete sell out,’ said Lord Archer. ‘It will be a special evening, with a great programme of performances, so it deserves to be absolutely full to the rafters.’
Lord Archer, 85, jumped on a Zoom call to The Citizen at short notice this week specifically to draw attention to the gala event because he has a particular fondness for the Marsden’s work. A champion charity auctioneer, Lord Archer has officiated at numerous events to raise funds for the Chelsea hospital. He has also been close friends for decades with pre-eminent surgeon Sir Magdi Yacoub, who trained at the hospital.
‘Sir Magdi was my first introduction to the Marsden many, many years ago and we have remained friends ever since. I’ve done auctions for Sir Magdi. I’m such a huge admirer of him and the work he’s done that I’m always delighted to support anything he’s associated with. He holds the Order of Merit, he has a knighthood, and he’s considered among the giants of our nation — probably the greatest heart surgeon alive.’
Lord Archer also had his own personal cancer journey in 2013 when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He had surgery to remove his prostate the following year and has made a full recovery. His wife Dame Mary also suffered bladder cancer in 2010, but has made a full recovery since surgery. Both were treated at the Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge. Lord Archer said: ‘Well, thank God, at 85 I am fit and strong, and the prostate cancer hasn’t been a problem. I’m very lucky.’
On Monday, Lord Archer will read a piece written by one of the gala’s chief organisers, author Sophie Money-Coutts. The evening, which is also curated by concert pianist Dominic Ferris, will be “a journey of music and reflection” to honour the charity’s 90-year history, from the formation of The Ladies Association in 1935 to the flourishing Friends of The Royal Marsden that it is today, which has around 170 volunteers.
Among the acts will be Mr Ferris, the vocal group BLAKE, The Chelsea Pensioners singers and Colin Thackeray, winner of Britain’s Got Talent 2019. Other readers include former tennis player Annabel Croft and journalist and psychologist Dr Sian Williams.
The event begins at 7pm and tickets cost £55. Book HERE
The FULL interview with Lord Jeffrey Archer will be published in the Citizen Fame section soon
