A better world

A Better World hit the radio stations this week, as Winston, who has signed exclusively with the Croydon Guardian next year to write a regular charity column, hit the headlines.

He visited South Norwood Primary School last month for the photo shoot which appears on the front of the record sleeve, and spoke to the Guardian, saying he had first been inspired to create a charity record by the events on and following the World Trade Center tragedy.

"Those images were shocking and really got me thinking," he said. "There was also a lot of activity at the time helping the actual victims' families from the world trade center, but I felt it was important to promote the message that war affects everybody, including the children of Afghanistan and worldwide, and I wanted to do something to help them all.

"Civilisation is all about pushing humanity forward towards greater love and understanding. Adults should know better than to have wars, and it's up to us to teach the children to do better.

"That's what the song's about really, creating A Better World for the children."

Winston, who worked with gospel singer Denzil Dennis to create the song, has chosen to release the record on December 14, his mother's birthday, in part as a recognition of the example she and his father set him.

"When I was young I remember Dad working at Lombard Bank in Purley Way and he set us the example that if you had a dream and worked hard at it, you could achieve your dream," said Winston.

"I feel that this Christmas there will be hundreds of thousands of children worldwide who will be cold and hungry, and without any dream of a better future. But children really are our future and these are dangerous times. It is up to us to give them hope for a future."

A quarter of a million copies of the single are due to hit the shops in coming months and Winston will be donating as much as 70 per cent of the profits to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). The record, which went from concept to recording to distribution in an amazing eight weeks, is produced by a former lady mayoress of Croydon, Marianne Bowness.

Winston McKenzie is well-known from his former career as a successful light welterweight professional boxer. Recently, he is known from his McKenzie brothers' Boxercise Gymnasium and as a popular local publican in Thornton Heath. He is also treasurer of Croydon Boys' club, a director of the Croydon Sports Partnership, and executive member of Croydon Playing Field's Association. Next year he will be joining forces with the Croydon Guardian for a year-long charity campaign.

** You can download a taster of Winston's single from this website.

December 13, 2001 13:30