Jim’s surprise visit to the Festival of Trees

Kind-hearted Jim from Swinton made a surprise appearance at Quayside MediaCityUK, as staff from Francis House Children’s Hospice put the finishing touches to a magical display of more than 40 Christmas trees.

The Festival of Trees, one of the charity’s biggest festive fundraisers, opens on Saturday 30, October, and the public are invited to place a bid on their favourite tree to raise vital hospice funds.

Jim, 74, was voted fundraiser of the year in the Pride of Manchester Awards 2020 after raising more than £200,000 at his shows for Francis House.

He said: “Any way that I can help Francis House I will do it. Like a lot of charities, the hospice has been hit hard financially and many of my shows were cancelled last year. But I’ve been doing more events and have already raised a few more thousand pounds.”

Quayside MediaCityUK has supported the project for the last 15 years by providing a rent-free retail unit.

The trees decorated by local and global organisations include Manchester United, The Fragrance Shop, Co-op, Women’s Institutes, and the cast of Coronation Street.

All have generously donated items including signed baubles, football memorabilia, mini cricket bats, as well as donations of luxury hampers, iPads and handmade gifts.

Francis House supports more than 500 families of children with life-limiting conditions from across Greater Manchester.

The Festival of Trees opens at 10 o’clock on Saturday, October 30 and can be found on the first floor at Quayside MediaCityUK shopping mall, The Quays, Salford M50 3AH. Bidding on the trees can also be made online and the auction ends on December 5. For more information visit our page Festival of Trees