Victoria station in Manchester is to become Victoria Wood station for one hour only on Saturday 4th June from 2-3pm in celebration of the comedian’s life and to raise money for Jessie’s Fund. Prestwich born Victoria’s death shook the comedy world earlier this year, was a patron of the charity.
Jessie’s Fund was founded by Victoria’s Bury Grammar school friend, Lesley Schatzberger, the charity helps disabled children to communicate by using music. Lesley said: “Nationwide there’s been a massive outpouring of love and respect for Victoria in the weeks since she died, but she has an extra special place in the hearts of Mancunians.
“Victoria was a fantastic patron, and said ‘I was delighted to become a Patron of Jessie’s Fund because it’s mission seems to me abundantly clear: that music is there for everybody, it helps everybody, no matter what their physical limitations or their difficulties with vision, hearing, or communication’.”
The event, called ‘Ave You Seen ‘Er? will be presented by singer and actor Sue Devaney, who appeared in Victoria’s Mancunian sitcom Dinnerladies. The Victoria Wood station concourse will stage the event and the café will be serving tea, two soups, spiced ham and piccalilli sandwiches and a selection of macaroons. Manchester’s newly-installed Lord Mayor will pay tribute to Victoria on behalf of the City of Manchester.
Fans are invited to come dressed as their favourite Victoria Wood character, and WI ladies will be selling specially-made Victoria Wood tribute sponge cakes. Manchester’s LGBT+ community choir will be performing their own version of Wood’s popular comedic song The Ballad of Barry and Freda, renamed The Ballad of Carrie and Freda, Barry and Fred.
