Bully donates to dementia fair

The Molineux icon has donated four signed prints to the first ever Stourbridge Vintage Memorabilia and Collectors Fair, which will be held on April 30.

The prints are the original artist's proofs of an oil painting, commissioned from Stourbridge based artist Geoff Tristram over 20 years ago, to celebrate Steve scoring his 306th and final goal for Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Specialist dealers will be travelling from all over the country to participate in the Fair at the historic Bonded Warehouse which was built in 1776 and is sited on the regenerated Canal Wharf in the centre of Stourbridge.

Steve Bull said: "Many former footballers are living with the problems created by dementia - including my old friend Nobby Stiles who was a member of the England World Cup Winning Team in 1966.”

A selection of the items donated to the fair will be put into ‘Memorabilia Boxes’ and used for talks and to stimulate discussion at Dementia Café Groups including Stourbridge,Brierley Hill, Sedgley, Dudley and Wolverhampton.

Items from the 1950’s -60’s - 70’s in the Memorabilia Boxes could include advertising materials, cigarette cards and cinema posters.

Jane Round, Dementia Café Coordinator for the Alzheimer’s Society said: “Selling vintage memorabilia and collectibles in order to raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Society is a wonderfully innovative idea. "People living with dementia often find that the memories of their childhood and early teenage years stay intact, whereas more recent memories are much harder to recall.”

“The fact that a selection of the items donated to the Stourbridge Vintage Memorabilia and Collectors Fair will be put into ‘Memorabilia Boxes’ and used in our dementia café groups is a wonderful bonus. "They will trigger early memories that can be very uplifting and therapeutic for the members of the groups.

"All profits from this special event will be donated to Alzheimer’s Society to support local services, research and campaigning in the Black Country

"Any items that people may have in the attic, the garage or at the back of the wardrobe that could be included in the Fair would be very much appreciated."

The first Dementia Café meetings organised the by the Alzheimer’s Society with the Memorabilia Boxes will be at Linden House Cafe, Tettenhall Road, Wolverhampton on April 4 and at the Nine Locks Community Centre, Brierley Hill on April 10.