Rise Park charity event to go ahead as £3k fee waived

Singer Gary Cook and his wife Louise first hosted the festive party in their garden in Rise Park last year as a way of raising money for Cancer Reseach UK.  

The pair wanted to give back to the charity following Mr Cook’s experience battling nasal cancer, from which he was told he had fully recovered on Valentine's Day in 2020. 

• READ MORE: 'Grown from a small idea': Hundreds support community sing-along in Rise Park

Around £3,000 was raised at least year’s event, which included Mr Cook singing a collection of Christmas songs, as well as a raffle, stalls and children's entertainment. 

Gary Cook performing at the event last year (Image: Sandra Rowse)

But when organising this year’s event, the organisers came across a potential sticking point. 

According to Havering Council’s website, a fee of £3,138 is to be paid for a road closure, with submissions to be sent to the council at least eight weeks ahead of time. 

David Game, one of several people helping organise the event, said there was concern about the event's feasibility in light of the potential cost, especially as the intention was do this year “bigger”. 

However, after writing to the council, Mr Game said he was told the fee had been waived, enabling the fun to go ahead. 

Hundreds of people turned up to last year's event in Rise Park (Image: Sandra Rowse)

Mr Cook added that, had the money been required, “we would have struggled". 

He added: "We would have to raise that money really. As a street, we wouldn’t have been able to afford that really.” 

A Havering Council spokesperson confirmed that the fee was not applicable due to it being a charity event. 

• READ MORE: East 17 at ‘special’ Christmas lights switch-on in Havering 

Now, the Mr Cook and co. are looking forward to applying the finishing touches to this year’s event, organised for December 21. 

With more decorations, more stalls and a new raffle, Mr Cook said he is hopeful of a repeat of last year’s success. 

He added he is also looking to expand on his selection of songs he will be singing, moving beyond Christmas classics to include the likes of George Ezra and even some child-friendly rap. 

“I’m hoping each year that the more people that hear about it, it will raise more money each year,” he said. 

He added: “We loved doing it last year. It was brilliant.

“I still get people now who are calling me Mr Christmas.”

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