A WHITEHAVEN man has raised £700 for Hospice at Home West Cumbria after releasing a charity album in following the deathof his late ex-wife and with heartfelt thanks to the musician who helped begin the project.
Peter Rothery, originally from Cleator Moor, presented the cheque to Holly Harkness at Hospice at Home West Cumbria’s Finkle Street office on Thursday, August 27.
He was joined by Whitehaven and Workington MP Josh MacAlister, who congratulated Peter on the fundraising effort.
Peter’s 10-track album, If This Is Love, was released earlier this year, with every penny raised from sales donated to the charity. The record features cover versions ranging from ballads to songs with a country influence, and includes an appearance by Cumbrian musician Steve Falcon.
But the album began as a project between Peter and the late Peter Richardson, a musician and former member of band Salvador.
Peter met Mr Richardson in Tesco in December last year and told him about his hopes of recording a CD for charity. Mr Richardson invited him to his Cleator Moor studio and the pair began working on tracks together.
They continued recording while Mr Richardson was receiving radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment. However, his illness progressed and he became too unwell to continue.
Peter said: “Heartfelt thanks to Peter Richardson and thank you to Tom Tyson.”
Mr Tyson helped Peter to record the remainder of the album.
The project was initially intended to support cancer research, but its purpose changed following the death of Peter’s former wife, Linda, from cancer in March.
Linda had received end-of-life care from Hospice at Home West Cumbria, and Peter’s daughter Andrea encouraged him to complete the album and donate the proceeds in recognition of the support her mother had received.
Peter later returned to the studio and worked with producer Tom Tyson, based near Egremont, to finish the remaining recordings. Mr Tyson mixed, mastered and produced the album, combining the later work with the tracks recorded with Mr Richardson.
Peter decided to call the album If This Is Love because he felt the title reflected the compassionate care offered by Hospice at Home staff to patients and their families.
Mr Richardson sadly died shortly before Peter presented the £700 cheque to the charity, following a long illness.
Peter thanked everyone who bought a CD and contributed to the fundraising total. He also thanked his daughters, Andrea Rothery and Michelle Rothery, and his son, Mark Rothery.
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