Ahead of his sold out appearance at Shanklin Theatre, rock musician Rick Wakeman visited an Isle of Wight charity this week.
Rick, best known for his work with prog-rock group Yes and late David Bowie, is a patron of the animal welfare charity, Friends of the Animals, and visited them before his concert.
Rick was given a personal tour of the charity’s new headquarters at Brannon House, the former County Press building.
Volunteers, trustees and even rescue dogs were invited to meet the Life on Mars pianist and Rick happily posed for photos and signed albums.
Speaking about Friends of the Animals and their new building, Rick said: “Friends of the Animals is absolutely amazing.
“To have [the new building] is incredible. They’ll be able to do so much more than they could ever do at their old place.
“They’re a fantastic charity that is well run with lovely, genuine people and I’m thrilled that they’ve got these offices."
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Helen Sinclair, of Friends of the Animals, added: “It is fabulous to have Rick as a patron.
“He has supported us for many years both financially and with his time.
“It’s also great to have these fabulous offices. This will really help push the charity forward.
“The new building seemed big when I saw it, but now it’s empty, it’s absolutely massive.”
Friends of the Animals hope to use ‘every single inch’ of Brannon House, looking towards a shop, sorting floor and offices.
At Rick Wakeman’s sold out Shanklin Theatre concert the same day, he played hits including Space Oddity and Morning Has Broken, as well as songs from his 1973 album, The Six Wives of Henry VIII.
Speaking exclusively to the County Press earlier this month, Rick told us that this would be the ‘last time’ he would play a solo concert on the Isle of Wight.
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