Metro mayors and celebs to battle it out on the bowling green at St Helens Gala Fest this weekend

Metro mayors Steve Rotheram and Andy Burnham will be joining celebs and sports stars battling it out for bowling victory this Sunday.

Taking place at St Helens Gala Fest, the pair will compete alongside Emmerdale actor Mark Charnock, former footie players Peter Reid and Frank Stapleton, ex-rugby players Tommy Martyn and Paul Loughlin, and comedian and actor Johnny Vegas, for the Lol Pennington Memorial Cup in honour of Johnny’s late dad.

The Bartons Pickles Johnny Vegas Celebrity Bowls tournament is a key event at St Helens Gala Fest which is being held at Ruskin Sports Village in aid of the Steve Prescott Foundation.

Fun at last year's St Helens Gala Fest — Fun at last year’s St Helens Gala Fest

And even Corrie favourites Jude Riordan (Sam) and Isabella Flanagan (Hope) will be getting down on the green for a special exhibition match.

“We started the Gala two years ago and decided to make the already popular bowls tournament a big part of it,” says Martin Blondel, general manager of the Steve Prescott Foundation.

“We’re delighted to have Steve Rotheram and Andy Burnham involved this year – they’ve been great sports – as well as all the other celebrities, for what is a such a great day out for all the family.

“The event raises between £15-20,000 for us which goes towards our work trying to improve the health and well-being of people in St Helens, and to our beneficiaries the Rugby League Benevolent Fund and The Christie Cancer Hospital.”

Martin hopes the Gala Fest will help foster a feeling of community within the borough: “I know that times are hard, and people are struggling at the moment with the cost of living crisis, but we can promise a fun family day that’s largely free.

“There are stalls, a fairground, mini golf and lots of other activities, as well as the bowls and a fabulous tribute artist music festival.

“For us, it’s about creating a better community and being part of that community, and we’ve seen how important that is with recent events.

“We’d just invite people to come along, have a great time, and help raise money for a great charity.”

When is St Helens Gala Fest being held and where?

St Helens Gala Fest is being held at Ruskin Sports Village, Ruskin Drive, St Helens, WA10 6RP, on Sunday, August 25, from 12 noon.

What can I expect there?

You can expect tons of family fun events and activities, a music festival and The Bartons Pickles Johnny Vegas Celebrity Bowls tournament. The event is free to enter although there are small charges for some activities and the Music Festival.

Battle of the Bowlers

16 celebrities from the worlds of showbiz, politics, football and rugby league with join 16 members of the public for the bowls tournament which will kick off at 12.30pm. There’ll also be an exhibition match with Coronation Street actors Jude Riordan and Isabella Flanagan who have recently fallen out on screen: “Maybe they can settle their differences on the Crown Green,” smiles Martin. “I’m told there might even be a separate grudge match between Mssers Rotheram and Burnham.”

Martin adds: “The tournament is really popular and Johnny does a great job and so much for us; we’d be lost without him.”

Gala fun

There’ll be around 20 community and charity stalls including the Dogs Trust Merseyside and Andy Reid’s Standing Tall Foundation, as well as 20 artisan stalls selling everything from cheese, to cakes, jewellery, perfume and crafts. There’ll also be an inflatable arena, small kids’ fairground rides, mini golf, and you can rub shoulders with your favourite heroes and villains from a galaxy far, far away as the 99th Garrison Star Wars characters descend and bring the Force with them.

Music Festival vibes

Six of the best tribute acts from across the UK will be appearing at Gala Fest with Lewish Capaldi beginning the entertainment at 2pm.

Then it’s:

3.15pm – Do It Like Dua – A Tribute To Dua Lipa

16.30pm – Arctic Monkeyz

17.45pm – The Gerry Cinna-Man

7pm – Kazabian

8.30pm – Take That Live

There are still some tickets available at £25 each for adults, and £12 for children (under 16).

What is the Steve Prescott Foundation?

The Foundation is a charity founded by the late Steve Prescott, who played rugby league football for St Helens, Hull, Wakefield, and Ireland, and was a GB Lions Tourist.

In September 2006, Steve was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and given months to live. Undeterred, he underwent major surgery and chemotherapy to control the disease … and then spent the remaining seven years of his life raising money to help good causes.