Professor Ray Donnelly MBE shares his memories of Roy Castle and the Tour of Hope.

“The Tour of Hope was a national event with the ultimate aim of raising the profile of lung cancer and raising money for lung cancer research. That’s what it was about – to help us diagnose lung cancer at an early stage.

“Roy understood that which he why he was determined to do it, even though he was so poorly at the time. I don’t think people knew just how poorly he was. In fact, he was so poorly, the tour very nearly didn’t happen…

“A couple of days before it was due to start, Fiona rang up to say “I don’t think we can do this. He isn’t very well.” But Roy being Roy was adamant he wanted to do.

I’m not sure he’s breathing

“He was taken to Euston station where the train was waiting. We’d been given this Pullman train for use and British Rail had arranged all the schedules. We had a compartment set aside for Roy so he could lie down during the journey. We also took Pauline Murphy with us, who was the first lung cancer support nurse in this country.

“During the journey to Liverpool, she came to me and said, “I’m not sure he’s breathing”. I asked her to please go back and have a good check which she did and confirm that Roy was ok.

When we arrived in Liverpool, you would not have guessed that that conversation had taken place. The train doors opened, and Roy was there greeting the crowds and the media, his hands in the air and the biggest smile on his face.

“That evening, there was a huge concert at the Liverpool Empire called For the Love of Roy. Cliff Richard was heading that up and various other big names.

“It was an incredibly emotional night and at the end of the show, Jerry Marsden started singing You’ll Never Walk Alone. The whole audience stood up, joined hands and sang alone. It was after this that Roy then came out. The clapping and cheering went on and on. When it eventually stopped, Roy looked at the audience and said, “What a way to resurrect a career!”.

Planes, trains and the Liverpool FC coach!

“The next morning, the Tour of Hope set off from Liverpool Lime Street station, although the ironic thing was there was a train strike that day so we couldn’t use the train! Thankfully, we had managed to get hold of the Liverpool FC first team coach to take Roy to Manchester.

“There was a huge crowd at the station and lots of media. There were so many slots on television, so many interviews and so much coverage, shining that much needed spotlight on lung cancer.

“I said goodbye to Roy and, at that point, I didn’t know if I’d ever see him again Fortunately, I did but we had a private moment to say goodbye, and off he went to Manchester and then Huddersfield which was near his hometown. He was really emotional about that, pointing out where he used to ride his bike and go fishing. He was a very human person.

“It was then up to Newcastle and when he got to Newcastle station, he was met by a lot of children singing and dancing. Roy loved that and then he turned to them and said, “Do something for me. Don’t get like me. Please don’t smoke.” He said it to the children, “Please don’t smoke.” It was such a powerful message.

“We then had to fly Roy from Newcastle to Glasgow because they didn’t think he was fit enough for another long journey. He had a private plane for him which was kindly donated by Littlewoods. There was another big reception waiting for him in Glasgow – bagpipes, the lot!

At every station, Roy would do interviews with the media but he was in pain. He hadn’t been eating anything for about three weeks because the tumour in his chest was pressing on his gullet and he couldn’t swallow food. He was on morphine, but he would do without the morphine as he approached the station so he was alert and able to do his interviews. That’s how remarkable and selfless he was.

“It was on the way to Carlisle that Roy then started to get headaches and feeling even more unwell. We arranged for an oncologist to see him on the train. They reassured him that these symptoms were to be expected in his condition and there was nothing to worry about.

“Roy carried on the Birmingham, Cardiff, Bristol, Plymouth and Brighton. At each stop, he go out and see the crowds and do more interviews then return to his carriage to lie down and crash out because he was so poorly.

Final destination

“Then eventually he pulled into Waterloo International station. The train was actually the first passenger train to pull into that station. They got Roy out into his wheelchair, and they took him up to the front on the train. The engine had been called after him, Roy Castle OBE. They unveiled it there and then which was a complete surprise to him, so that was lovely.

“We then took him to a hotel where we had a final reception. Roy got up and thanked everyone. It was remarkable – you know we’re the one who should be thanking him!

“He got back into his wheelchair. Fiona took him home and, within two or three weeks, he died.

“Roy was the finest man I have ever known. A man of integrity, of courage, of faith and of humour – he joked about himself even when he was dying – he was the most remarkable person. We are determined to keep his legacy going forever and we will never forget him.”