TV actor opens farm near Macclesfield for charity
The man who played Andy Sugden in Emmerdale has opened his farm near Macclesfield to the public for charity.
Local actor-turned-farmer Kelvin Fletcher has been on quite the journey over the past few years.
For the Easter holidays, he opened up his Peak District farm near Macclesfield for the first time.
The family-man set aside an afternoon especially for families who've been supported by the national good cause Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC).
The charity provides temporary accommodation for families near to where their poorly children are being treated in hospital.
Kelvin – who has first hand experience of the charity's work – is a recent convert to farming and set up the 'Fletcher Farm' during the Covid-19 pandemic despite not having any previous farming experience.
Kelvin said despite being new to farming, things have been going well so far.
He commented: "It's been a big change, certainly in at the deep end, but we took a bit of a plunge and here we are two years later – we're getting on for 100 sheep, we've got pigs and we'll be getting some cattle next."
He said the support he and his family had received since embarking on their farming journey had been overwhelming, and that was partly the inspiration behind opening the farm to visitors.
He explained: "We wanted to create a little event, around what we would enjoy as a family. We wanted to celebrate Easter, it's a hugely significant time in our calendar and we wanted to share that with other families.
"Today's been extra special because we've had all the families from the Ronald McDonald House Charities – we gave them an extra special VIP experience.
"They've been in the lambing shed, they've held some lambs, they've had a walk around the yard and it's been great. It's been a real honour, really."
He's been an ambassador for the charity for a number of years and said he wanted to bring a little extra joy to some of the local families the charity has supported.
One of those visiting the Fletcher Farm was the Ellis family from Longton, Staffordshire.
James Ellis, 39, said: "Our three-year-old, Henry, loves animals – he's seen the baby lambs, he's seen a horse and some little pigs.
"It's been good being amongst other families that have been where we've been. We've had fun, got covered in mud – and that's what it's all about!
He also praised the charity for the support they'd given his family.
He said: "We'd never heard of RMHC until 2020 when Henry was born. They have a house next to Birmingham Children's Hospital and basically we had to move in there.
"For three months, we didn't go home because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Financially we couldn't afford to pay for a hotel for that long.
"So that's effectively what they do – they offer a home from home, it's having that facility there for people. They give you that opportunity."
Vicky Ellis, 39, added: "It's like a support network. You get to be close [to the hospital] and support your child.
"It gives you a bit of respite from hospital as well because it is tough being next to child when they're full of tubes and things like that."
The families visiting the farm had to brave the elements, given the typically unpredictable British climate, but were rewarded with memories that Kelvin hopes will last them a lifetime.
The Oldham-born celeb said: "It's the old cliche, but it's very touching to have seen people's reactions and to know that this little thing we're doing is going to make an impact.
"There's many families like ours that just love to get outdoors and active regardless of the weather, so I think it's been a huge success and I hope this will be a special place in their hearts."
It has not been disclosed how much money has been raised thus far.
Mum Rachel Morgans, from Sandbach in Cheshire, also visited the family farm with her husband Adam and their three children, Imogen, 13, Ralph, four, and Bonnie, 20 months.
She said: "We stayed at Arrowe Park House from September until November 2021 after Bonnie was born at 23 weeks, weighing just 655g. We then stayed at the Manchester House for a few weeks last summer, when Bonnie required a stay on intensive care, after both her lungs collapsed, and she ended up back on ventilation.
"She's doing well now, although I try not to get too complacent. She's still on oxygen and has a few little issues but she's doing better than we ever thought she would.
"When we were invited to Fletcher's Farm, we knew it was an opportunity we couldn't pass up. Unless you've been in a Ronald McDonald House, you don't understand how important it is to have those family moments, when you can make memories and take pictures to cherish forever. It was a really happy occasion, which we all enjoyed after everything we've been through, all thanks to Kelvin and Liz and Ronald McDonald House Charities UK."
Ronald McDonald House Charities UK, is a charity providing free 'home away from home' accommodation for families with children in hospital.
A Ronald McDonald House saves each family an average of £1,240 in out-of-pocket accommodation expenses. They operate in 14 places across the UK.
See Also: Macclesfield woman to jump out of a plane three years after she almost died
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