Comic Chris chips in to help Great Wyrley nursery

Staffordshire-born Chris was recruited by mother-of-two Gemma Meers who is one of the volunteers on the committee for the Holly Lane nursery in Great Wyrley.

The nursery is a registered charity which offers the community affordable childcare but relies on donations and fundraising.

Gemma said: “After years of being rated ‘outstanding’ and having an excellent reputation in the community an Ofsted inspection deemed the outdoor area as unsafe due to rubber chippings (as found in many children’s parks and playgrounds) and the nursery was made to remove them all.

“Ofsted say children could choke on the chippings. This meant that slides and outdoor equipment also had to removed from the outdoor area as there was no longer a ‘soft’ ground if children were to fall.

“Luckily, parents and helpers worked hard to clean the area and make it safe and the nursery is now rated as ‘good’ by Ofsted. However, it has meant that outdoor provision isn’t as inviting as it used to be nor does it offer the range of development opportunities that it could.”

The nursery is now hoping to raise money for a new, acceptable ‘soft’ ground and some climbing equipment.

When Gemma mentioned the problem to her friend Chris, who she went to Great Wyrley High School with, he agreed to help and set about recruiting some comedy names for a fundraising gig which will take place at the Prince of Wales Theatre in Cannock on October 8.

Gemma said: “We met up a couple of years ago at one of his shows and have been in touch since. I said ‘Do you fancy helping with this’ and he has done a fantastic job getting some comedy stars.”

Chris, who has appeared on Dave’s One Night Stand, is currently the support act for international comedy star Milton Jones on his tour but which comes to Dudley on September 29 and Wolverhampton on November 4, but has had to has ducked out on October 8. Taking to the stage with Chris in Cannock will be comedy magician Pete Firman, star of ITV’s Saturday Night at the Palladium, The Next Great Magician, BBC1’s The Magicians, and who has featured on The John Bishop Show and Derren Brown’s 3D Magic Spectacular.

Also appearing is and David Longley who has written for Channel 4’s 8 out of 10 cats.

MC for the evening is Kiri Pritchard McLean, described as one of British comedy’s fastest rising stars and as seen on Russell Howard’s Stand-Up Central.

If a sell-out, the night will raise some £4,500 to buy the much-needed equipment for the nursery. Tickets for the charity night are £18 available from the box office on 01543 578762 or the nursery on 01922 417256.

Chris will be performing his solo show at the Lych Gate Tavern in Wolverhampton on November 4.