A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended this year’s Strictly Tea Dance, in aid of The Caron Keating Foundation. What a fantastic afternoon, that was the right mix of fun, joy, and remembrance.

The entertainment kept coming, right from the start with Gary Williams and his Band playing as everyone took their seats. We must thank Brian and Lucy Conley, Gary and his Band, Aimee Good, Swing Sisters, Biggins, and of course the Strictly dancers led by the extraordinary Nadia Bychkova.

As always, I couldn’t have done it without the generosity of The Langham Hotel, and their amazing team. With love to all my dear friends and family. Keep dancing!

Why not give your loved one, family, or friends, a gift of a personally signed CD of Gloria’s re-released Album, from her 1979 LP, ‘A Taste Of Hunni’. It has been digitally remastered, and it features a specially written foreword by Sir Cliff Richard. The CD reached Number 2 in the Amazon Download Charts.

Gloria is offering this personally signed copy of the CD for £9.99. All proceeds go to The Caron Keating Foundation. The CD reached Number 2 in the Amazon Download Charts.

Gloria said “When she heard this album was to be released, she couldn’t begin to tell you how thrilled she was. It’s a collection of “never to be out of fashion” middle of the road songs she played endlessly on BBC Radio 2 when she had the pleasure of a daily programme for 13 years. So many memories are tied up in this album, she really hopes you enjoy listening to it, and a huge thanks for joining me on a trip down memory lane.”

For more details to purchase, please email Charles, you can click on this link here charleshunniford@gmail.com

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council conferred the Freedom of the Borough to Mrs Gloria Hunniford OBE at an official ceremony held at its Civic Headquarters, The Palace Demesne, Armagh on Saturday 25 May 2024.

Along with family and friends, Gloria Hunniford, the first female recipient, was awarded the prestigious honour in recognition for her outstanding contributions to broadcasting and her tireless charitable work.

Known for her extensive career spanning over five decades in television and radio, Gloria has become a beloved figure in the British media landscape. Her work has touched the lives of millions, and her dedication to excellence and integrity in journalism has set a high standard for the industry.

In addition to her broadcasting achievements, Gloria is renowned for her significant charitable efforts. Following the tragic loss of her daughter, Caron Keating, to breast cancer, Gloria established the Caron Keating Foundation. This charity has raised millions of pounds to support cancer patients and their families. In Northern Ireland, the Foundation supports Action Cancer’s mobile breast screening service, ‘The Big Bus,’ which Gloria launched in 2006. This service has provided thousands of women with crucial early detection of breast cancer, making a profound impact and saving countless lives.

Gloria Hunniford OBE responded to the news with gratitude, saying:

“I am deeply honoured to receive the Freedom of the Borough, particularly as it comes from the area where I grew up.  County Armagh and Portadown my hometown has always held a very special place in my heart, and to be recognised in this way is incredibly humbling – it’s great to be home.

“I want to thank the council for considering me for this honour and arranging today’s very special event with family and friends. I look forward to continuing my work and supporting the causes close to my heart.”

The Freedom of the Borough is the highest accolade that Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council can bestow. It is awarded to individuals who have rendered eminent services to the borough or achieved distinction in their field.

Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough, Alderman Margaret Tinsley bestowed the honour to Gloria, stating:

“It is with great pride to confer the Freedom of the Borough to celebrate Gloria’s connection to our community, combined with her professional achievements and the profound impact from supporting cancer patients and their families through The Caron Keating Foundation.”

The conferment of the Freedom of the Borough was attended by elected members, distinguished guests and cancer charities along with Gloria’s family. During the ceremony, Gloria was presented with a scroll to commemorate the prestigious occasion.

During the afternoon, Gerry Kelly (pictured above on the left) did an interview on stage with Gloria. Both Gerry and Gloria started UTV at the same time, so they are long time friends. It was enjoyed by all.

To finish a fabulous afternoon/evening, Brian Kennedy, (also pictured above), a close friend of Gloria’s, entertained everyone with his fabulous array of songs.

Gloria and The Caron Keating Foundation have helped many Cancer Charities around the UK, Hospices, and the people who attend them, over the years. This Thank You card was received by Gloria from someone who attended one of the rooms in a Hospice we donated to. The Name and Address of the person who sent it has been withheld for their privacy.

This is to let those who have applied for a Grant from the Foundation know, that the total paid out in Country wide Grants was £189,800 in Financial Year 2023 – 2024. Remember, only those who were successful are notified.

We are also delighted to announce, that a donation to Variety, The Children’s Charity, has led to them being able to purchase another Coach, and it will be in Caron’s name. It has been allocated to Northern Ireland. As Gloria has said ‘I am thrilled to bits that it will be in Caron’s name, and I have no doubt whatsoever, it will be of great assistance, to children whose lives have been affected by Cancer.’

Gloria, and The Caron Keating Foundation are aware that a great number of people have been so generous in sending money to the Caron’s Foundation through JustGiving and PayPal. It is regrettable that we cannot always obtain details in order to thank individuals.

So I would really like to acknowledge to all of you who have supported Caron’s Foundation in order to help Cancer Charities of all kinds all over the Country. Enormous thanks from me and the family.

Two we do know of which came directly to us, was Mr. Dennis Smith for his donation of £10,000 not to mention his previous ones. Also Mr. John McGlynn for his donation of £10,000. It is such a wonderful gesture on their behalf. We cannot thank you both enough.

All my family would like to thank most sincerely everyone who supported Caron’s Charity, The Caron Keating Foundation, on Sunday, February 12th, 2023.

It was our first event for 3 years due to Covid-19 so it was wonderful to welcome those of you who came along – everyone who donated auction prizes, everyone who bought those auction prizes to raise money towards all types of cancer charities all over the country.

We had marvellous entertainment from Sophie Ellie-Bexter, Tony Christie and Amarillo, Gary Williams and his band, Sing out Sisters and the unforgettable dancers from Strictly – Nadiya, Pasha, Maria and Leandro.

Finally Lord Archer, who through his incredible auctioneering technique helped us raise a fabulous amount, which is amazing for a small family charity like ours.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.

On Friday, July 29th, 2022, I had a really emotional, and truly informative day in Canterbury. It was the launch of a brand new Chemotherapy medical unit which bears Caron’s name.

I know that Caron would be amazed and thrilled that a mobile unit like this is serving the County of Kent, and the many people who will have Chemotheraphy treatment on their door step, as opposed to travelling many many miles to Hospital.

Many thanks to Tina Seymour CEO and everyone concerned. And for the record, I am very proud and delighted that the new Hope For Tomorrow Bus is now running, and that it will help many people.

Prior to the launch of the Bus, Gloria presented Tina Seymour, the CEO of Hope For Tomorrow, with a £10,000 cheque from The Caron Keating Foundation.

Background information on Hope for Tomorrow and on its impact in East Kent and why the Charity was started.

Hope for Tomorrow was founded by Christine Mills in December 2003. Christine had a very personal reason for wanting to establish mobile cancer care. Her husband David, suffered from spinal cancer and one of the stresses the couple endured was travelling from their home to the oncology centre; a journey of nearly 60 miles. They found travelling to hospital for his treatment gruelling.

After David lost his fight to cancer, Christine wanted to do something to alleviate the anxieties of travelling to hospital for treatment. She met Dr Sean Elyan, Consultant Oncologist at Gloucestershire Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and discovered that he had vision to bring treatment closer to home. This inspired Christine to make the dream into a reality and the charity raised enough money to build the world’s first mobile cancer care unit, and Hope for Tomorrow was born.

Christine worked tirelessly to build Hope for Tomorrow’s fleet of mobile cancer care units and to ensure the charity helps make an impact on thousands of people on their cancer journey. She was awarded an MBE in 2012.

Sadly, Christine died in September 2018, but the team are proud to continue the work she started and her legacy lives on.

History and impact:

• Caron is (and will be) based at Kent and Canterbury Hospital.
• She will travel to Herne Bay, Cheriton, Folkestone and Dover to provide treatment.
• The first Caron mobile cancer care unit has treated more than 13,000 patients over the past 10 years.
• Hearing from patients who live in Kent and were treated on Caron in 2021, they told us that, on average, for each treatment, they saved:
• Two hours in travel time
• Travel mileage
• Fuel and parking costs

In this great Documentary, Gloria looks back at her extraordinary career and reveals what it has been like to be woman, mother and grandmother on television and radio for more than half a century. This Documentary has also been acknowledged by The Royal Television Society. You can watch this on BBC iPlayer by clicking the link HERE Don’t forget when finished in iPlayer hit the Back Arrow to return to the website.

Mr Dennis Smith won the Auction of Brian May’s ‘the world’s only special’ Sparkling Pinkest of Pink signed guitar paying a fantastic £18,501. Gloria Hunniford and The Caron Keating Foundation would like to give their heartfelt thanks to Mr. Dennis Smith, and world-renowned guitarist Brian May of Queen who has made this wonderful gesture in putting his personal guitar he used on the hit single I’m A Woman up for Auction, to help raise money for our Charity and for Target Ovarian Cancer. The money raised by this magnanimous gesture will go to help people dealing with Cancer, all over the country. We cannot thank Mr. Dennis Smith, Brian May, WOMAN, and Alpha Solutions (who organised the Auction) enough.

Mr. Dennis Smith has very kindly let the Hard Rock in London display the guitar for a one year’s residency, to give people the opportunity to see it, along with helping to make people more aware of this hideous disease. It’s in good company, being in front of Eric Clapton’s suit, and next to BB King, Bo Diddley and Jeff Beck’s guitars.