An evening of music and memories took place at Glossop Labour Club on Saturday to celebrate the lives of Mags and Ken Whiting.
The couple, who lived in Chisworth, were leading members of Chernobyl Children's Project, and they were instrumental in bringing hundreds of children for recuperative holidays in Glossopdale, and thousands more to stay in other parts of the country.
Before their involvement in the charity from 1995, much of their time and energy was devoted to folk music. They sang and played at many festivals and ran several folk clubs, one of them with Glossop residents Brian and Margaret Peters.
It was Margaret who organised the event on Saturday and Brian with another long time friend of Mags and Ken, 'Bonz' played some bluegrass music on the night with guitar, mandolin, banjo, fiddle and dobro.
'Bakerfield' are a duo from Cheshire who play Americana and Roots music. They were delighted to be asked to play for Mags and Ken, and the packed audience was full of friends and family.
'It was a very moving event' said Linda Walker, Director of Chernobyl Children's Project, she added " It was fitting that it should take place this weekend on the anniversary of the Chernobyl Disaster. Although it is 38 years since the reactor blew up, much of Belarus is still contaminated and the radiation continues to cause health problems for the people, especially the children. We raised over £600 on Saturday, which we will use to support children with cancer and children needing palliative care. Mags and Ken would have been delighted to know that they are still having an impact on supporting the Children of Chernobyl."
"This isn't just a social group, it's friendship, it's support and it's life.”
Gamesley joins England’s ‘Raise the Colours’ flag surge
No plans for asylum seeker hotels in High Peak
A hidden gem of community spirit: Hattersley Projects brings locals together
