A film writer and producer had his film screened in his own village and managed to reach a £1,000 charity target.

Les Veale who lives in Kingswear organised the film screening of ‘Daddy’s Letter’ for the end of May. He was inspired to write the film after listening to the Vicar of Dibley actress, Liz Smith on BBC Radio Four Desert Island Discs.

Hearing how Liz’s father had left her when she was a young girl, with a promise to write, Les was moved, so he immediately sat down at the piano and composed a song called Daddy’s Letter. This in turn led Les to write this musical based on the title song and inspired by Liz’s story.

The film screened at Kingswear Lower Village hall was made in support of the Exeter based Balloons Child Bereavement charity. The charity has a mission to provide support for grieving children and young people where they can share their experiences as they move through their own healing process.

Previous screenings have raised £750 for the charity, so Les was eager to reach the first grand with this showing. The evening raised £520 overall which brought the total up to £1,295 for Balloons.

It is hoped the work of the charity will ensure that no child or young person is discriminated against if they need support to work through grief and that no child should progress on to adult life feeling the affects of unresolved grief, as Liz Smith did.

The link with the child bereavement charity came about after Les saw them featured on BBC Spotlight. The plight of the children motivated him to make contact and suggest a fundraising link because the charity has much in common with the story of Daddy’s Letter.

The film starred Di Davies, an actress now living in Torquay who is best known for her roles in Coronation Street, Family At War and Emmerdale.

Les has expressed his gratitude to all the Kingswear residents who helped to raise money and support the evening.