On Friday 24 November 2000 the Linda McCartney Centre
in Liverpool was officially opened by
Cherie Booth QC, wife of Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Cherie Booth was born in Liverpool and during her opening speech she made
reference to her
"scouse" roots saying "She never has to find an excuse to come home". She
also spoke of her
determination about seeing this Centre of Excellence open in Liverpool and
mentioned that
Paul McCartney and his family were honoured that Linda's name would be forever
remembered
in a place where the McCartney family still remain today.
She said she was proud to be asked to perform the task of offically opening
this wonderful Centre which will
deal with all forms of cancer and has a state of the art Breast Cancer Unit.
Roger James, Chair of the Royal Liverpool University
Hospitals read out a letter from Paul McCartney who was unable to attend
but said "Fellow scouser Cherie would do a good job."
There were many guests present and Beatle fans were represented by Jackie
Spencer from LiveApool Tours
and myself, Jean Catharell from Liverpool
Beatlescene.
Reference was made to the many ordinary people who
had thrown their enthusiasm and imagination
into raising much of the £4 million pounds needed to build this
Centre.
If you would like to become a Friend of the Linda
McCartney Centre then please contact Appeal Manager
Julie Bond on +44 151 706 3153 (outside the UK) or 0151 706 3153 in the UK
or email her at jbond@linda-mccartney-centre.org.uk - she will be pleased
to hear from you.
Very soon there will be an online auction to raise
more funds for the Centre.
Many people have donated items for auction and one special item is one of
Linda's
cook books signed by Paul, and some of Stella's Chloe designs.
The Centre's website will shortly go online at
http://www.lindamccartneycentre.org
Cancer needn't win