A TEIGNMOUTH GP has teamed up with Devon’s Elvis impersonating extraordinaire to produce a Christmas single for the ages, all while raising money for local charity Volunteering in Health. 

A £5 donation to the ‘Lonely this Christmas’ campaign will secure the sounds of Lesley Presley for Christmas Day while funding a charity looking after Teignbridge’s most vulnerable. 

Dr Daniel Brett with Lesley's manager Paul Forsyth and music producer Paul Reynolds (Daniel Brett)

For each donation, Volunteering in Health will also send a Christmas Card out to one of its service users. 

A GP for 30 years, Daniel Brett is Teignmouth’s answer to Bob Geldof. 

‘I’ve been working in the Teignmouth Practice for five years and have been a trustee of Volunteering in Health for two years,’ Daniel explained. 

Volunteering in Health is a local charity that supports people in Teignmouth, Dawlish and Chudleigh to make positive changes to their health and wellbeing.

From taking people to GP appointments and helping those struggling mentally to just being a friend to someone who needs it, Volunteering in Health has become a vital resource to many, particularly at this time of year. 

But over recent years, the charity’s resources have become stretched. 

Daniel said: ‘It’s been quite a financial struggle in the last couple of years with the cost of living crisis now and Covid before that. 

‘But the demand for our services is higher than ever, particularly at this time of year with winter and winter illnesses. It’s a difficult situation’

After a little less conversation, a plan was made at a trustee meeting in October: Daniel would record a Christmas single with the legend that is Lesley Presley. 

(Daniel Brett)

‘I’ve been to parties and gigs and my friend’s wedding and seen Lesley Presley, so for the Christmas song it absolutely had to be him. 

‘He was fantastic, he was brought over by his manager who was like the manager out of Love Actually, and got the single recorded.

‘It was a bit of a mad rush not unlike Bob Geldof trying to get the Live Aid single recorded and everything organised.’

After recording the single, Lesley and Daniel went to see Peggy Cook, a recipient of Volunteering in Health’s services, to launch the #lonelythischristmas campaign and serenade her with the song. 

It wasn’t her first Lesley Presley experience: Lesley had performed at Peggy’s son’s wedding more than  20 years ago. 

The B-side of the single is Leslie’s favourite Elvis song, The Wonder of You. It may not be the Las Vegas strip, but Lesley’s crooning voice does bring Elvis’s flair to the glittering lights of Queen Street in Neqton Abbot where he performs every Thursday. 

To donate and hear the single, click here.