Simon Howard with his Christmas Time CD in aid of the Earl Mountbatten Hospice. Picture by Jennifer Burton.
AN ENTERTAINER from the Island who lost his father to cancer, has recorded a CD of a festive song composed by his father in aid of the Earl Mountbatten Hospice.
Simon Howard, who moved to the Island ten years ago, recorded the song Christmas Time after coming across his father’s lyrics to it in a drawer at home, four months ago.
With the tune his father, Victor, composed when Simon was a child, he linked up with a close pal and recorded the song.
Simon, 49, of North Road, Shanklin, a father of six, said: "Dad wrote the song a long time ago. Christmas Time is a Christmas song with caring, loving words. He was a singer and used to sing it to me and my brother and sister as kids.
"I helped him finish it 17 years ago but it was put to one side and forgot about when I lost dad to cancer at a Portsmouth hospice around 17 years ago.
"I visited Sandown-based Island CDs and they produced all the discs. As I lost dad and a close friend of the family to cancer, I know how important places like the Earl Mountbatten Hospice are.
"The hospice always needs funds, so all profits from the song will go there. The CD costs less than a pint and will help a worthy cause."
The CD is available to buy from Busy Bee, Ryde, That’s Service Party Shop, Shanklin, and all the Island’s hospice shops. It can also be downloaded from iTunes.