WHEN crooner Terry Desmond notched up half a century in showbiz he wanted to make his celebration special.

So he arranged a dinner event at Horwich RMI which attracted more than 200 paying guests who helped raise £1,350 for Bolton Hospice.

Terry, now 71, still sings swing regularly with several big bands in and around Bolton and where he can he likes to help raise money for charity.

“I wanted to celebrate working in local showbusiness for 50 years and decided to raise cash for Bolton Hospice which is a good cause.

“I was delighted when 206 people turned up for a three course dinner and fouir young ladies from the Stagecoach School of Dancing, where my grand-daughter is a pupil, danced with me in my opening number. It was a great night.”

Terry, who lives in Westhoughton with his wife Joan, sings with Jeriatric Jazz the last Wednesday of every month at the Jolly Carter in Little Lever.

He also keeps his voice in trim singing swing with the Art Lester Big Band at Horwich RMI every Tuesday and the Ron Hayes Big Band at Brackley Conservative Club in Worsley every other Thursday.