ONE of Britain’s most famous ever TV soap characters was one of the star celebrity guests to take part in the Sir Norman Wisdom Wooden Spoon charity golf tournament yesterday (Tuesday) at Castletown Golf Club.

However for Paul Henry, who for many years played the bumbling handyman character Benny Hawkins in ‘Crossroads’, it was a happy return visit to the Island, having first travelled to the Isle of Man more than 30 years ago.

“Paul Gaskell brought me to the Island to play in the SPARKS children’s charity golf tournament many years ago - we always had the dinner afterwards in the Palace Lido - so I have lots of very happy memories of the Isle of Man,” he said.

Paul Henry returned several times to play charity golf on the Island and recalls lots of celebrities who regularly took part, such as Les Dawson, Jasper Carrott, Dennis Taylor and sports stars and television personalities.

“They were really wonderful occasions,” he added, “but it’s been just as good here today. It has been wonderful to come back to the Isle of Man again and see how much it’s changed - the promenade used to look so tired, but now it’s completely different. The Island looks much more prosperous, but I see the Palace Lido has disappeared. It was a really great venue.”

Now fast approaching his 65th birthday, Paul Henry now works in theatre throughout the country and he makes the occasional television appearance, such as in the series ‘Doctors’ and the prison drama ‘Bad Girls’. He also spends time with his wife Sheila in their Spanish home and is involved in a variety of charity work.

He’s also no mean golfer. On a gusty day at Castletown - which is never easy to play when  the wind blows - Paul Henry was the top celebrity player, playing in the team sponsored by JCK Ltd. His prize was an engraved pen - “thank God it wasn’t a bobble hat !”, he told the large audience at last night’s gala dinner at the Hilton Hotel.

Regular guest at the event, Liverpool comedian Stan Boardman, hosted the evening dinner and legendary boxer John Conteh - making his first visit for Wooden Spoon - took charge of the auction of sporting memorabilia.

Other celebrities taking part for the first time included former Liverpool footballer and TV presenter Ian St John, Superbike rider Jeremy McWilliams and boxer John H Stracey.

Regular supporters of the event included footballers Alan Kennedy, Ron Yeats, Duncan McKenzie, Dean Windass, Gordon Lee, and John Hendrie and a host of stars from sport, TV and comedy including Keith Harvey, Steve Parrish, Chris Herring, Paul McCoy, Mike Nicholas, Frank Myler, Aaron James, Danny Roman and John Devereaux.

The Wooden Spoon Charity Golf Day in the Isle of Man is regarded by the UK charity as one of its biggest events of the year and a number of senior officials of the charity travelled specially to the Island yesterday to be involved.

The main sponsor for the event was once again Alliance & Leicester International whose managing director John Pearson praised the work of Wooden Spoon and offered future sponsorship support for the charity golf event.

Last night’s gala dinner raised several thousand pounds for the charity which will all go to deserving children’s causes on the Isle of Man.