Pals pay tribute to postman Danny

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http://www.wigantoday.net/wigannews/Pal ... 4495294.jp

Published Date:
16 September 2008
By Charles Graham
Pals of a Wigan postman who died in a suspected fall are holding a tribute event to raise money for two charities.
The funeral of Danny Johnson was held at St John's Church, Standishgate, and the hundreds who attended were testament to his popularity.

The 35-year-old dad from Trafalgar Road, Swinley, had done his bit for good causes over the years, donating his Christmas tips to Cancer Research.

So friends at the Pear Tree pub on Frog Lane, where Danny was a regular, have decided to hold a fund-raising evening there, both for Cancer Research and also four-year-old Wigan boy Jack Ball about whose medical plight locals read in the Evening Post.

Jack, from Pemberton has a pigeon chest and needs a brace fitting to restrict the growth of his rib cage.
The operation is only available in America and his family need to raise money to get him over there.

Danny's friend Tony Broxson said: "Danny was such a popular guy that we wanted to do something to remember him by. He gave a lot to Cancer Research and we also thought it would be nice to help out Jack.

"So at 6pm this Sunday we are holding an event in his memory. Lots of artists have agreed to donate their time including Vinny Cadman, a comedian who was in the final of New Faces several years ago in front of a TV audience of millions, performed on TV on many occasions and who entertained British troops in the Falkland Islands.

"Vinny is to come out of retirement and perform with his son, Jackson Cadman. Other performers are Emma Dane, John Burrows,Trisha Lee, Jimmy Lavin and Stage Fright Karaoke. Thanks also go to Dave and Lynn landlords of the Old Pear Tree who have kindly offered to host the event.

"The event is free and is intended as a remembrance to a friend and is open to everyone and we hope many of his friends and colleagues will attend."

Danny was found collapsed at the bottom of the stairs at a friend's home in Hartley Avenue, Scholes, following a night out on August 24.

He left a wife Delia and 13-month-old daughter Ophelia. Danny's death is a second tragedy to hit the Johnson family. In 1989 his older brother Paul died at the age of 23 from a brain tumour.