‘Office chatterbox’ from Lostock Hall stays quiet for whole eight-hour shift

Clark Crosby managed to keep stum to raise nearly £2,000 for charity Pic: Rosemere Cancer Foundation

Self-confessed chatterbox Clark Crosby turned the silent treatment into a fundraising opportunity to help Rosemere Cancer Foundation.

Clark, from Lostock Hall, was sponsored to remain silent for his whole 8am to 4pm shift, he managed to raise £1,827 for the charity including a £600 donation from the AO Smile Foundation.

Clark, 39, said: “The silence was actually my lovely work buddy Honor’s idea. She suggested I try it after telling me I was the most extroverted person she knew. When it comes to shy, I am the opposite. I love to get to know people, to have a chat. It used to get me into a lot of trouble at school as I’ve loved a good natter since being a little boy.”

He continued: “I think I inherited it from my mum Louise, who is also very friendly and warm and likes to chat. My dad Ian used to like his peace and quiet. He’d be out walking in the Lakes enjoying the solitude and I’d just ring him to say hello. He used to say, ‘Clark, what do you want?!’ I’d be just checking in but dad didn’t want anyone interrupting his walks. No time for chit chat!

“Dad died of bowel cancer aged 56 in 2019. He was looked after wonderfully by the team at Rosemere Cancer Centre. I did the silence in tribute to him to coincide with what would have been his 61st birthday. It was hard work up until about 11 am then I actually settled into a nice rhythm! I’m very grateful to everyone who sponsored me.”

Community and events fundraiser for Rosemere Cancer Foundation, Yvonne Stott, said: “Our congratulations and thanks go to Clark for remaining quiet and for his brilliant donation. In all my years working in the charity sector, I have never before come across an adult being sponsored to stay silent – children yes, grown up no – so Clark’s achieved a first for me!”

It is not Clark’s first fundraiser for the foundation, in 2019 he raised £2,537 running the Chester Marathon, also in honour of his dad.

Rosemere Cancer Foundation brings world class cancer treatments and services to patients being treated at the Centre. Based at at the Royal Preston Hospital, and eight other local hospital cancer units across Lancashire and South Cumbria. The charity funds equipment and services that the NHS cannot afford. Making patients’ care more effective, comfortable and stress-free.

For more information on their work, or to make a donation, visit the Rosemere Cancer Foundation website.

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