Ahead of his UK tour with Take That, Rick Astley made a special appearance this week at a children's hospital in Hampton.
The pop star performed for families and patients at the Hampton hospice, of Shooting Star Children's Hospices.
The charity provides care and support for babies, children and young people with life-limiting conditions, and their families, at both their Hampton and Guildford hospices and through their Hospice at Home service across London and Surrey.
It was at Shooting Star House, the charity’s Hampton hospice, where families gathered in the lounge and dining area to enjoy a live set performed by Rick and his band.
The singer was also joined by some additional musicians as supported children played along with some of the hospice’s musical instruments.
It was then Rick’s turn to be entertained as children, families and staff performed a special ‘Friendly Hands’ Makaton version of one of Rick’s most famous songs Never Gonna Give You Up.
Makaton is a language programme using signs and symbols to help people communicate, which many of the children at Shooting Star Children’s Hospices and their families use.
Rick Astley said: “It’s a real privilege to be able to come to the hospice because I know all the really great work that goes on here – it’s amazing and very humbling.
"It’s a great place and I really enjoyed myself today.”
Karen Sugarman, Executive Vice President at Shooting Star Children’s Hospices said, “It was a fantastic afternoon and we can’t thank Rick and his band enough for taking the time to come and perform to some of our supported families.
"Music is such an important medium for many of the children we support, giving them a chance to express and enjoy themselves.
"Often children and families cared for by Shooting Star Children’s Hospices don’t have the opportunity to enjoy live music, so to be able to have such a great artist as Rick to come to them at the hospice is wonderful.”
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