A POPULAR Stourport entertainer has published his memoir to raise funds for life-changing treatment in Russia for his partner of 40-years.

Maurice Almey has published his book - The Has-Been That Never Was: Mark Avon - to help raise £20,000 to pay for 12 weeks' brain stem cell treatment, as well as an air ambulance and personal care, following a brain injury that left his partner, Max Jerrison, partially paralysed and unable to speak.

The treatment works by seeking out any damaged cells and replacing them.

Max was only 54 when he suffered a ruptured aneurysm and multiple bleeds to the brain towards the end of 2013.

The resulting damage and emergency operation left him in an induced coma for three weeks and he has gradually regained some function of his left arm, and also sight and hearing. He is currently being looked after at Brook Court Care Home, in Kidderminster.

The pioneering regenerative treatment is still being clinically tried in the UK, but the 2,000 plus patients who have undergone the treatment abroad have reported positive outcomes. New neurons can be generated in days or weeks that might otherwise have taken up to 20 years.

Maurice said: "For many years, Max had encouraged me to write my memoir and share my story with fans and readers, and I started writing it before he became ill.

"I decided to complete the book and publish it, to help raise awareness and funds to improve his quality of life and independence."

Maurice and Max have lived in Stourport for the last 25 years, and Maurice became well-known on the entertaining circuit with his popular shows, performing under his stage name of Mark Avon.

The paperback book - The Has-Been That Never Was: Mark Avon - is available to buy in Pete Prints, in Bridge Street, and also from online retailers including Amazon.

The book tells the story of a young boy growing up in a children's home, who went on to be picked out by Opportunity Knocks, and entertained the crowds through the 1960s and later in the 1990s and 2000s.