A TOUCH of glitz is coming to Musselburgh, as TV star Miss Coco Chanel returns home to entertain audiences to help abandoned animals in Spain.
Coco, known locally as Colin Brown, from Musselburgh, moved to Benidorm 14 years ago to pursue a career as a drag queen, and has appeared on Channel 5’s popular TV programme Bargain-Loving Brits in the Sun.
In 2018, he set up a horse rescue charity after finding a horse tied to a tree on the outskirts of Benidorm, which he took care of and homed in local stables.
He then took on more horses and decided to start asking for loose change donations after his popular show to help fund his rescue efforts.
Six years later, he now lives in Murcia with his Spanish partner and his son, Hugo.
During the Covid-19 lockdown, they turned their garden into a small petting farm for all kinds of abandoned animals, from sheep to meerkats and emus, as well as horses.
With more than 100 animals in total, Colin has recently purchased a neighbouring piece of land to expand his licence of nine horses to 18, which he rescues, rehabilitates and rehomes in the UK, where they can graze on land in their “forever homes” and enjoy a “happy retirement”.
The charity has currently rehomed 46 horses all over the UK, including one in Musselburgh.
Bella White, from Musselburgh, Colin’s friend Iain White’s 11-year-old daughter, has been fundraising for the charity since April 2021, including completing a 10-mile sponsored walk in Musselburgh, which raised just over £1,000, an ice pool dunk, and a sponsored dad beard shave. She also travelled to the farm in Murcia to undertake a three-day sponsored poo pick, which raised just over £2,500.
She also makes Hugo’s Home Farm souvenirs such as keyrings and magnets, which she sells to the charity’s followers via social media and at her stall at Colin’s fundraisers at the Wiremill Social Club in Musselburgh, along with charity t-shirts, Christmas jumpers and calendars.
Iain and Colin, both former pupils of Pinkie St Peter’s Primary School and Musselburgh Grammar School, have been lifelong friends.
The fundraising shows are sold out but there are still tickets, priced £15, available for Coco’s show at the Wiremill Social Club this Sunday at 8pm.
To book, WhatsApp +34 633 81 94 99 or message Hugo’s Home Farm on Facebook.
A disco, bingo and raffle can also be enjoyed.
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