THE MEMORY of Les Dawson was at the forefront of a special round of golf as celebrities teed off to help raise funds for one of his favourite charities.

A multitude of stars from the showbusiness to sporting world converged at Blackpool's exclusive De Vere Hotel, off East Park Drive, to compete in the 1996 Les Dawson Golf Challenge on Tuesday (May 7).

Stars like Kenny Dalglish, Dennis Taylor, Eric Bristow, John Lowe, Eddie 'The Eagle' Edwards, Frankie Vaughan and Sherrie Hewson helped put the fun into fundraising with a round at the hotel's immaculate Heron's Reach course.

Big-hearted golfing amateurs paid £100 each to team up with a celebrity, raising thousands of pounds for a Fylde therapy centre for sexually abused children.

"The NSPCC is a great charity and one Les would love to be involved with," said Blackpool favourite Frankie Vaughan. "I think it's a marvellous way of raising money for a very worthwhile cause."

The event was organised by Les's wife Tracy who heaped praise on the Citizen for publicising the competition.

"The Citizen's support has been brilliant and very much needed. It's been a real boost," she said.

Tracy also thanked co-organiser Shaun Pickup - her "tower of strength" and right hand man - along with all her other helpers including former Blackpool hotel chief John Herdman and radio personality David Jones.

Former world snooker champion Dennis Taylor was right on cue to take the honours for the Life Magazine entrants.

"I didn't know who I was playing with until I got here," said Taylor, who had raced over from Sheffield after the Snooker World Championships.

"I love swapping snooker balls for golf balls, especially in aid of charity. What a great event."

Darts favourite John Lowe checked out with the best celebrity performance.

"You just can't beat a game of golf like this. It's a welcome change from darts but one I'm always prepared to make for charity."

Following the golf, the stars gathered for for a celebrity fundraising dinner at the hotel in the evening.

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