An orphan who grew up in a Faversham care home has revealed how he was ‘adopted’ by a British stage and screen superstar.

From a young age William Sunnocks had a special friendship with the singer and actress Gracie Fields, even calling her “Aunty Gracie”.

Now 92, Mr Sunnock still fondly remembers the first time the superstar turned up to his orphanage in Faversham and told his carer how much he missed her.

Carer Lynne Casson heard the story of the pensioner’s famous friend when she sat down with him at his home in The Maples, The Broadway, Minster.

While the two chatted Mr Sunnocks mentioned his Aunty Gracie.

After speaking a bit more it turned out that he had spent his early life living in an orphanage in Faversham called The Mount.

As a 10-year-old he enjoyed listening to records of his favourite singer Gracie Fields, so his close friend David helped him to pen her a letter.

They asked if the Shipyard Sally actress would be Mr Sunnocks’ aunty because he did not have any family of his own.

She duly wrote back but when the harsh regime at the orphanage saw the reply, he was told to write again but this time to apologise for bothering her.

Unbeknown to the children’s home, the superstar turned up at the building in the town on a Sunday soon after and announced that she was Mr Sunnock’s Aunty Gracie.

From that point on until her death in 1979 she became his guardian angel.

"I’ve got so many postcards and photographs from her and an equal number of happy memories" - William Sunnocks

Mr Sunnocks, who now lives in The Maples, The Broadway, Minster said: “She was so kind to me and took her role as aunty very seriously throughout her life.

"I’ve got so many postcards and photographs from her and an equal number of happy memories.

“When I was in the Marines she would always ensure I was put up in a hotel or house somewhere as I had no home of my own to go to when I was on leave.”