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Concert hits the right note
A charity night at Batley’s Irish Democratic League Club raised £1,500 for the tsunamni appeal.
The event included entertainment by local Elvis impersonator, a raffle and bottle collection.
Organisers, who handed over a cheque to a representative from Cafod last Thursday, thanked everyone who supported the event.
And on Wednesday, June 22, a couple who were in Indonesia when the disaster struck Boxing Day last year will be giving a talk and slideshow about their experiences and about how the area is being rebuilt with help from people’s donations at the club in Churchfield Street, Batley.
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| Batley News - January 13th 2005 |
Ray's Charity Challenge
Elvis impersonator Ray Wood will oil his quiff and don his blue suede shoes for a good cause when he takes to the stage at Batley Irish Nash next month. Ray, of Dale Lane, Heckmondwike, will perform with his band Elvis on Tour to raise money for the victims of the Tsunami in South Asia.
The event on February 25 th was organised by Ray and Chris Hindle, who will perform with his band Connect Duo. Gareth Davey and Ruby Tuesday will also feature, and compere Gordon Halliwell will perform a few songs.
Ray said, “I’m fortunate that people say I look and sound like Elvis, and I perform paid gigs regularly, but I thought it was time to give something back”. “The Tsunami is a terrible disaster and my partner, Karen, pointed out that I could do my bit for the cause. Altogether we’re hoping to raise £1.000"
The event costs £3 for ticket holders and £5 on the door. Tickets are available at the Nash, or from Ray on 07711 735085
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| Spenborough
Guardian - July
11th 2003 |
A RIGHT ROYAL TRIBUTE
Over £4,000 raised in pub tribute
A PUB'S fundraising weekend in memory of a regular
customer who died earlier this year raised around
£4,000 for charity.
Staff and customers at the Royal in Heckmondwike
enjoyed a fun-filled weekend in memory of John
Russell, to raise funds for the Kirkwood Hospice,
alongside his family. John, a regular at the pub
for many years, died in April at the age of 63
after suffering from mesothelioma, a cancer caused
by asbestos. The event, sponsored by O'Garra Smith
Gold Solicito rs of Leeds, kicked off on Saturday
morning with a sponsored aerobics class.
On Saturday evening there was a party night which
included live bands, a DJ and a raffle, plus Elvis
impersonator Ray Wood. Five men including landlord
Martin Langan and Sean Rourke, one of the stars
of the current Halifax TV ad, were auctioned and
offered to take the winning bidders on a romantic
date. Martin, who was offering to cook a champagne
breakfast and watch It's a Wonderful Life followed
by a shopping trip to Leeds, was surprised when
his own partner Tracey bid the highest amount
of £105.
The weekend ended with a sponsored walk on the
Spen Valley Greenway on Sunday, started by Elvis.
Martin said the event was a great success and
a great time was had by all. "A touching memory
for me will be from Sunday's sponsored walk,"
he said. "At the party night a lady kept coming
up to me and saying how she was enjoying herself
and on the Sunday before the walk she came to
the pub to drop off some food for the participants.
She then took part in the walk, pushing a young
child in a pushchair. "The lady turned out to
be John's sister and she said he would be looking
down smiling that day. I gave my excuses and went
upstairs with a tear in my eye. "It's been a wonderful
weekend for all of us and we have raised a lot
of money for Kirkwood Hospice. Tracey and I would
like to thank all the people in Heckmondwike for
their kindness, generosity and support." A John
Russell memorial football match was also held
on Sunday June 29 when the "old" Royal beat the
"new" Royal 8-4. |
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Scarborough Rock 'n' Roll
Scarborough
rock took on a new meaning when Batley's own Elvis
took to the stage in the Lancaster - the town's
largest pub.
Ray Wood said his gig had gone down really well,
with the owners offering him another two datesw
and the possibility of his own summer season next
year.
He said "It was a little bit daunting because
I wanted to do so well because I have always wanted
to perform on the coast, be it east
or west, but it went down really well." |
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| Birstall
News - February
20th 2003 |
Ray's
all shook up about Elvis
LOCAL folk would be forgiven that thinking the
King was alive, well and living in Birstall
thanks to one Birstall businessman's obsession
with Elvis.
Ray Wood, has taken his life-long devotion to
the Graceland crooner one step further than
most, building a shrine to his music on his
Rhodes Avenue home and appearing as his hero
at parties and functions. "We're going to call
it Ray's Land," he laughed, gesturing towards
the partly built extension. "It will be like
a shrine to Elvis and his music." He and his
family even flew out to Graceland for the
anniversary of Elvis' death last August and
visited his Memphis home. Ray said: "It was
unbelievable. It's been a dream because I have
wanted to go for almost 23-years, so when it
finally came off it was amazing going to the
house and the grave side."
Ray enjoyed his trip so much that he is planning to return again next year, taking
his mum Rhene - who is also a huge fan - with
him. It was soon after he returned that Ray
decided to take the plunge and don his white
rhine stone suit professionally after years
of belting out the hits in front of locals.
He
said: "It is something that I have always wanted
to do and I think that it was starting to drive my mates mad having Elvis blaring
out all the time, so now I go out to parties,
anniversaries and the like and give them half
an hour or so of The King." Recently he got
a taste of what it is like to be the star attraction
when he appeared at a sell out ladies night
held in the White Heart pub, Batley. He said:
"It went down really well.
The pub was packed and everyone was joining
in. It was a really good night. "Its great that
25 years on kids are still listening to and
liking Elvis." Ray is now waiting for the day
when all his dreams come true and he performs
Suspicious Minds at a Las Vegas show. "That
would be the ultimate performance," he said.
"Elvis loved Vegas." Anyone interested in hiring
Ray to appear at their function can contact
him on either 0113 277 0009 or 07711 735085.
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Viva Espana For Elvis!
Elvis may have loved Las Vegas but it was Viva
Espana for one local impersonator who has just
returned from two sell-out gigs near Marbella.
Playing to crowds of up to 350 people, Ray Wood
who owns RW Lift Truck and Transport Training
Services in Grange Road said the mini tour had
been "brilliant" and really "enjoyable".
Ray said he felt he was becoming more and more
like the King everyday, saying"Elvis started
his career at Sun Records, Memphis. I started
mine at Fun Records, Heckmondwike! It's a bit
of a coincidence." He even flew out in true
Elvis style taking his entourage - Wife Karen,
tour manager Shaun Moyser and his aunt and uncle
along with him.
It all began some time ago, when Fun Records instructor
Gordon Halliwell launched Ray onto the music scene
and thanks to a little help from Shaun, he has
never looked back. Ray said "within the short
space of time I have gone from being local to
international. It has all happened really quickly,
but that was the way it was for Elvis too".
But his rapid success has not made him too big
for his blue suede shoes, as although he has been
offered a permanent position in Benidorm he still
has plans for gigs closer to home.
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Elvis took centre stage at Heckmondwike's first
ever music festival in August, held at the Cricket
Club and organised by Fun Records and Heckmondwike
Events. |
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