THE annual fashion show in aid of Help for Heroes at Phoenix House in Catterick Garrison was, as always, an unforgettable event and it was an honour to be the host.

There were many inspirational moments but one in particular deserves to be amplified.

One of the models from the ranks of injured members of the armed forces was Jason Wilkes, who was injured in Iraq eight years ago when a suicide bomber struck next to the convoy in which he was travelling. Jason suffered burns to his hands and face as well being hit in the jaw by shrapnel.

As he reached the end of the catwalk, Jason suddenly fell on to his hands and performed 22 press-ups.

Most members of the audience - me included – assumed he was just hamming up his role. I ironically described him during my commentary as “as shy retiring type”.

But during the interval, Jason asked if I’d explain at the beginning of the second half of the show that he hadn’t just been “showing off”. There was a very good reason for the 22 press-ups.

It was part of a campaign to highlight the fact that 22 military veterans take their own lives every day because of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders and other mental illnesses.

It is an incredible, and tragic, statistic that underlines the importance of a charity like Help For Heroes which is striving to support members of the armed forces who come back from war zones with physical and mental injuries.

Thank you to Jason Wilkes for pressing the case so well.

ON a lighter note, it was nice to meet former Great British Bake-Off finalist Sandy Docherty at the Phoenix House fashion show.

Sandy is a great supporter of Help For Heroes and she’d kindly travelled from Leeds to be there.

“I baked a cake for the raffle - but one of the staff ate it,” she told me.

A Great British Bake-off Celebrity Cake mysteriously scoffed? Surely, it’s a case for CrumbWatch.

CRUMBS – today happens to be the due date of my first grandchild and the excitement is rising faster than a Bake-off bloomer.

But I’m now sweating on the delivery of not one but two babies.

I've been asked to be on standby to cover for heavily pregnant TV presenter Kate Walby as compere at the York Community Pride Awards.

Kate's due to host the awards at York Racecourse on Thursday but, if she goes into labour, I have to be ready to drop everything.

My question is this: If her waters break halfway through the event, do I get half the fee?

MANY thanks to the members of Houghton-le-Spring Tangent Club who had me as guest speaker at Chilton Country Pub and Hotel last week.

This snatch of conversation on the top table made me smile:

“We’ve been surviving on microwave food because I’m having a new kitchen fitted?” said the chairman.

“Oh, where are you getting it from?” asked an interested member opposite.”

“Marks & Spencer,” came the reply.

I have a feeling she meant the kitchen.

THERE are lots of things I miss about being a newspaper editor but dealing with the complaints isn ‘t one of them.

I’ve been trying to imagine the complaint that led to the apology, below, in the Irish Times.

“I’m an artist, damn you, an artist!”The Northern Echo:

STICKING with the arts, we come to this week’s clue to help with the search for The Holy Grail – also known as the Golden Tin of Spam.

To recap, the Golden Tin of Spam has been hidden at a secret location to help promote the forthcoming production of Monty Python’s Spamalot by Darlington Operatic Society.

Whoever finds it wins two tickets to the show, enough produce from Darlington’s Victorian Covered Market for a family of four to have Sunday lunch, plus afternoon tea for two at the Mercure Darlington Kings Hotel.

The first clue went like this: “If you want to find the Holy Grail, go to a place where there’s lots on sale.”

This week’s clue is this: “If the Spam is to be found, set out your stall – don’t MONKEY around.”

* Spamalot is being performed in the Princess Alexandra Auditorium at Yarm School from October 24 to October 29 and I’ll be making the briefest of appearances as “Sir Not Appearing” in the Show on the final Saturday. He’s a Barron Knight.

For tickets, call 01325 244659 or book online at www.darlingtonos.org.uk