One of the most famous names from the cobbles is preparing to donate even more of her iconic jewellery to support Tameside's hospice.
Julie Goodyear MBE, who played Bet Lynch in Coronation Street, has been named as the new patron for Willow Wood Hospice, in Ashton-under-Lyne.
The TV star donated a large amount of jewellery to Willow Wood last year, including some worn personally and some worn while starring as the archetypal brassy barmaid with a heart of gold.
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That jewellery raised more than £16,000 for Willow Wood at auction, and now Miss Goodyear is looking forward to supporting the charity again as its new patron.
Karen Houlston, chief executive of Willow Wood, added: “We are thrilled that Miss Goodyear has accepted the position of patron.
"She has long been a supporter of the Hospice and we’re proud to cement and extend that relationship."
As Rovers Return barmaid-turned-landlady Bet Lynch, Miss Goodyear was a regular on Coronation Street from 1970 to 1995, while she also made appearances in 1966, 2002 and 2003.
On Corrie, she was the wife of Alec Gilroy, played by Roy Barraclough - the founding patron of Willow Wood and a close friend of Miss Goodyear.
She said: “Roy was the founding patron of Willow Wood, and I have always taken a keen interest in the hospice.
"It’s a fantastic local charity and I’m proud to be able to support them.”
The news comes as a boost for Willow Wood at the back of a tough time in the pandemic, with several fundraising events put on hold in the past year.
Ms Houlston added: "It has been a difficult year for all charities.
"The auction last year was a tremendous boost to our funds and we are very grateful for this second wonderful donation.
"We’ll be announcing details of the sale in due course - please keep an eye on our social media channels for more information.”
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