Going cheap, one OBE
Howerd's award raffled for charity
Frankie Howerd’s OBE is to be raffled for charity.
The comic left his award, which he received in 1977, to manager Dennis Heymer after his death at the age of 70 in 1992.
Tickets for the raffle will be sold at Howerd's former country home, Wavering Down in Somerset – boosting visitor numbers when it opens to the public over summer.
Mr Heymer’s adopted son Chris O'Byrne, 38, who is raffling the gong, said: “The OBE meant a great deal to Frankie. He would be over the moon to know that it can still do some good for others.
“We don’t know how much the award will bring but we hope we do the best we can.
“People still remember Frankie very fondly. He was a deep-thinking man and he brought the best out in many people’s lives.”
The money raised will be used to help local projects including the Burnham-on-Sea lifeboat
Wavering Down will be open on April 19, the anniversary of Howerd's death, and various weekends through the summer.
The raffle will be drawn on the final day the house is open, September 18.
Published: 7 Apr 2005
