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Secret Millionaire Donation

Secret Millionaire Donation

Retired miner and DAMHA Executive Committee Member Cyril Dunn, inspired the Secret Millionaire with the work he does to unite older and younger generations.

The 69-year-old secretary for Easington Welfare Club was told by producers they were making a documentary about Easington and antisocial behaviour.

Cyril, who lives off Seaside Lane, Easington, was worried Channel 4 would show the former pit town in a bad light.

He said: “We’ve had a lot of bad press so I told them I wasn’t going to talk to them but the producers insisted it was nothing like that.

“At the end, when they said it was the Secret Millionaire, I thought it was another wind-up.

“But then when he gave us the cheque for £12,000, it was brilliant.

“We’ve never had anything like that. We have had to beg and scrape for every grant we’ve had.”

Easington Welfare Club opened in 1934, funded with money directly from the miners’ pay cheques, so when the pit closed 15 years ago raising money became a struggle.

Millionaire Carl said he was impressed with the building and the opportunities Cyril and the committee of volunteers provided for youngsters. The club is open every night and in the winter months 30 or 40 youngsters spend their evenings under Cyril’s watchful eye.

Cyril said he has already spent Carl’s money on new lights and a glitter ball for the dance hall, as well as stage lights and stage curtains, a new lighting desk and a soundboard for the drama club.

He said: “It’s surprising how much these things cost – the money soon goes.

“The hall was a real mess, but it’s had a lick of paint, we’ve cleaned the floor and with all the new lights and the curtains the place looks great.”

The hall regularly hosts a drama group, line dancing classes, boxing lessons, rock and roll nights, ballroom dancing for the over-70s and a monthly rave for youngsters.

Now the stage is complete the club is working towards its first pantomime, Aladdin, and has invited new member Carl as guest of honour.

Cyril said: “I can’t thank Carl enough. This kind of money is wonderful just wonderful.

“We’ve had a long struggle since the pit closed but Easington is a nice place and this shows that other people think the same. “He is welcome here anytime.”