Russell Brand makes 'generous' donation to Hillsborough Family Support Group
Oct 19 2010 Luke Traynor
COMEDIAN Russell Brand has made a “generous†donation to families who lost loved ones at the Hillsborough disaster.
The entertainer decided to make a contribution to the Hillsborough Family Support Group (HFSG) after watching spokeswoman Margaret Aspinall speak at the 21st anniversary memorial service at Anfield.
Brand met Mrs Aspinall recently when he attended his book signing at Waterstones, in Bold Street.
The West Ham fan has phoned the mum, who lost her son James, 18, on the Leppings Lane terrace, on two occasions, once when he was in Memphis, Tennessee.
Today, Mrs Aspinall told the ECHO: “It really came out of the blue. He sent me a letter, which was lovely, and said he would like to meet me.
“He mentioned the group on a Billy Butler radio interview and said he had watched me speak and it was very moving.
“He said he loves Liverpool and thinks the work we are doing is very good. It was very nice of him – he did not have to do it.
“I will not disclose how much he gave us, but it was a generous donation. I met him upstairs at Waterstones and he signed his book for me.â€
Yesterday, it was also revealed how £660,000 was made available to the independent Hillsborough committee.
In Parliament, sports secretary Jeremy Hunt, who recently caused controversy after wrongly linking the tragedy to hooliganism, announced the cash boost.
The panel brought in to study the previously undisclosed files on the 1989 disaster are currently examining the once-hidden documents. They are likely to be made public some time in 2012.
Concerns the group’s work might be downscaled with a new government at the helm have been quashed after home secretary Theresa May gave her full backing to the project.
Read More http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2010/10/19/russell-brand-makes-generous-donation-to-hillsborough-family-support-group-100252-27500737/#ixzz131kbcK26
Oct 19 2010 Luke Traynor
COMEDIAN Russell Brand has made a “generous†donation to families who lost loved ones at the Hillsborough disaster.
The entertainer decided to make a contribution to the Hillsborough Family Support Group (HFSG) after watching spokeswoman Margaret Aspinall speak at the 21st anniversary memorial service at Anfield.
Brand met Mrs Aspinall recently when he attended his book signing at Waterstones, in Bold Street.
The West Ham fan has phoned the mum, who lost her son James, 18, on the Leppings Lane terrace, on two occasions, once when he was in Memphis, Tennessee.
Today, Mrs Aspinall told the ECHO: “It really came out of the blue. He sent me a letter, which was lovely, and said he would like to meet me.
“He mentioned the group on a Billy Butler radio interview and said he had watched me speak and it was very moving.
“He said he loves Liverpool and thinks the work we are doing is very good. It was very nice of him – he did not have to do it.
“I will not disclose how much he gave us, but it was a generous donation. I met him upstairs at Waterstones and he signed his book for me.â€
Yesterday, it was also revealed how £660,000 was made available to the independent Hillsborough committee.
In Parliament, sports secretary Jeremy Hunt, who recently caused controversy after wrongly linking the tragedy to hooliganism, announced the cash boost.
The panel brought in to study the previously undisclosed files on the 1989 disaster are currently examining the once-hidden documents. They are likely to be made public some time in 2012.
Concerns the group’s work might be downscaled with a new government at the helm have been quashed after home secretary Theresa May gave her full backing to the project.
Read More http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2010/10/19/russell-brand-makes-generous-donation-to-hillsborough-family-support-group-100252-27500737/#ixzz131kbcK26
