FIONA CASTLE was guest of honour at the opening of the Roy Castle Centre for Lung Cancer Research on Tuesday.>

Fiona sees Roy's dream come true

Picture shows Fiona Castle with Sir Cliff Richard, who opened the research centre

FIONA CASTLE was guest of honour at the opening of the Roy Castle Centre for Lung Cancer Research on Tuesday.

Mrs Castle's husband died from lung cancer in September 1994 after he campaigned tirelessly to help raise public awareness about the dangers of passive smoking and to help other sufferers during his own illness.

He set up the Roy Castle Cause for Hope Appeal to raise £12 million to build the cancer research centre in Liverpool.

Fiona, who lives in Gerrards Cross, helped set up the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation after his death.

Fiona said: "The scientists have already been in the research centre since September.

"This was an official opening. The research will be to find early detection for lung cancer, obviously looking for a cure, but also to look into the genetics and environmental factors as to why it attacks some people and not others.

"We are also going into cancer education for young people."

The centre was opened by singer Sir Cliff Richard and a celebration lunch was held for the fundraisers at Liverpool Football Club after the opening.

Mrs Castle added: "It was really good. There was such a lovely atmosphere.

"We had a big gospel choir singing outside the centre."

After the opening, a group of children sang to Sir Cliff and Fiona, to honour Roy's wish that the international centre would be "for my children and my children's children."

An all-star cabaret was held that evening to help raise funds to finance the running of the centre.

The show was headlined by Sir Cliff and other famous faces included Harry Secombe, The Drifters, and The Merseybeats.

Other celebrities at the opening included High Wycombe's Frankie Vaughan, Jean Boht, Gloria Hunniford, Robert Powell, Faith Brown, and Cheryl Baker.

The charity recently employed its first nurse, Iona Brisbane. She is based at the Beatson Oncology Centre in Glasgow. It is now hoped to employ more nurses at each of 36 other cancer centres.

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