Corrina Danby, 43, from Boldon Colliery in South Tyneside, has made a hugely influential move to remember her dad. After losing her son Colin Watling in the 1996 crash, she formed a campaign group Colin’s Corner. Watling, professionally known as Charlie King, died by suicide on April 23, 2024 at the age of 65. In doing so, he won the hearts of generations of local youth for more than three decades. Through his country music, he injected life into social clubs and pubs from Berwick to Blackpool.
Colin’s Corner would like to offer a comfortable and confidential space for those still trying to make sense of suicide’s aftermath. The ensemble is now made up of the ten players who rehearse every Sunday at the Boldon Independent Methodist Church. Corrina Danby’s main focus is to break the stigmas that surround grief and help people avoid “bottling” their feelings.
On the day after her father’s death, Danby understood the searing loneliness that can follow such loss. She knows as well that the grief rooted in suicide can be incredibly isolating. “This form of grief can be a very lonely place,” she stated, reflecting on her own experiences. She wants people to know that talking about your feelings takes some heaviness off your shoulders when dealing with these kinds of losses.
Corrina Danby, who recently finished a counselling and suicide prevention course through Learning Curve Group. Now she’s better prepared to help more people on their journeys of healing. Through this training, she was better prepared with the essential tools for helping others who have suffered these same losses. It was helpful in processing my own grief,” she revealed, adding that her new journey of helping others is a healing creation.
According to Colin Watling’s daughter he was an irreplaceable “one off.” He did leave behind a tremendous legacy, both in his music and the impressions he left on each person who knew him. Danby hopes to ensure that her father’s death was not in vain. She hopes to grow Colin’s Corner to serve even more people who are missing out on this crucial caregiving support network.
“I want people to know that we are here to help and we can support those who need it,” she emphasized, underlining her commitment to building a community centered around understanding and compassion.
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