Black Country fundraising duo resume rehearsals

A pair of well-loved musical fundraisers have rehearsed for the first time since lockdown.

DUDLEY COPYRIGHT TIM STURGESS EXPRESS AND STAR...... 04/06/2020..... Musician and performer Tom Stanton,left, one of half of duo Blue Granits, has continued to raise money for the diabetes unit at Russells Hall Hospital, by writing songs ready to perform after lockdown. He is in his 70s and is diabetic so has been in the at risk category meaning he has faced a tough lockdown at home and has been unable to go out. Pictured with left, Lily , Carol and John Westwater and Billy Spakeman..

Musicians and performers Tom Stanton, 73 from, and Brian Dakin, 68, aka Black Country broadcaster and performer Billy Spakemon, both from Oldbury, make up the duo Blue Granits.

The duo have been raising funds for Russells Hall Hospital before the outbreak of Covid-19 by busking in the hospital as well as a number of events at libraries and community centres.

So far, they have raised £6,500 for the diabetic until to buy specialist camera equipment and are now aiming to raise more than £3,000 for LED lighting for the hospital's leukaemia ward.

Although the majority of their fundraising has been put on hold, Tom has raised additional funds from singing on his drive during the Clap For Carers campaign and for VE Day, and Brian continues to work as a carer.

Throughout lockdown, they have been planning their next fundraising ventures and writing new songs ready to perform when it is safe to do so.

Musicians Tom Stanton and Brian Dakin have raised thousands for Russells Hall Hospital pictured with left, Lily , Carol and John Westwater

The pair have now met up for the first time since lockdown kept them apart to rehearse in Tom's front garden at a safe distance apart.

Tom said: "We have now become volunteers at the hospital.

"Everybody there is lovely, from the paramedics to the chaplains, we get on great with everyone and we feel that we are part of the family.

"We are both genuinely in awe of all of the staff at the hospital.

"We love to do this play music and see folks enjoying themselves and we are looking forward to raising some more money for them in the future."