Coronation Street and Casualty star Charles Dale to stop off in Terrington St John as part of month-long motorcycle ride

A renowned actor will be stopping off in West Norfolk tomorrow as part of a month-long motorcycle ride in memory of a friend who died from a brain injury.

Charles Dale, best known for his roles in Coronation Street and Casualty, is visiting 100 motorcycle cafes across Wales and England in 30 days as part of ‘Shaun’s TT 100’ to raise money for the charities Brain Tumour Research and Headway.

A stalwart of Saturday night TV in his role as Big Mac in Casualty, and more recently Emmerdale, he set off last Monday from his hometown of Tenby in memory of his friend Shaun Griffiths, who died last October.

He will stop off at Motorbite in TF Motorcycles, on New Road at Terrington St John, on Tuesday.

Charles said: “Just over six months ago one of my oldest and best friends suffered a catastrophic brain injury because of what can only be described as a ‘silly’ household accident - he slipped on the stairs.

“Unfortunately for Shaun this resulted in a bleed on the brain and just over a week later his family had to make the most difficult decision ever, to withdraw life support. Shaun died shortly after - he was 63.

“When you get to my age you are unfortunately no stranger to death, but losing loved ones to old age or illness, though no less painful, has always sort of made sense to me.

“This, however, was different - I couldn’t make sense of it. Shaun slipped on the stairs, something we’ve all done, and yet my lovely, always smiling friend of over 40 years, was gone.

“I had to do something, so after talking with his family, ‘Shaun’s TT 100’ was born.”

The epic challenge, which has seen Charles joined by famous faces along the way, comes as he is announced as an ambassador for Brain Tumour Research.

He was a close friend of Coronation Street star Bill Tarmey, whose son Carl died of a brain tumour, as well as being acquainted with writer, poet and musician Benjamin Zephaniah, who also died to a brain tumour in 2023.

Charles said: “Seeing the devastating impact brain tumours have had on my friends’ lives has been awful - so I’m deeply honoured to become an ambassador for Brain Tumour Research, the leading voice of the brain tumour community and a cause that’s very close to my heart.”

Russell Marriott, director of income generation and development at Brain Tumour Research, said: “We are enormously grateful to Charles for his dedication in taking on this challenge to shine a light on Brain Tumour Research and Headway – two charities fighting for those affected by brain tumours and brain injuries.

“It is a unique opportunity to fund vital research and life-changing support that will bring much-needed hope to our communities.

“We wish Charles the best of luck and look forward to following his epic journey.”