A coat that once belonged to one of the UK's favourite comediennes is a late addition to a charity auction of her memorabilia in County Durham.
Victoria Wood’s brother, local author Chris Foote-Wood, is presenting his charity show 'Remembering Victoria Wood' with a talk, auction, book sale and a 25-minute film featuring the entertainer, never before shown to the public.
All proceeds will go to the Witham Community Arts Centre in Barnard Castle, where the auction will be held on Friday, November 15.
The coat will be modelled at the auction by Chris’s former wife Joan Rooke, now 88, who in her teens was a beauty queen and model.
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“Joan was offered a place with a major London agency and could have been a top model, but she gave it up to marry her first husband and raise a family,” said Chris.
“Victoria gave her coat to a charity auction some years ago where I bought it.
"Later, I gave it to Joan who has now kindly agreed to donate the coat to the Witham, and the least I could do was to ask her to model it for us on the night."
Correction: Please note, an earlier version of this story included an incorrect date. The auction is to be held on Friday, November 15, not November 5 as previously reported. The error was made in good faith, based on information supplied.
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