SMALL change – big difference.

That was the slogan for Red Nose Day on March 14, 1997, hosted by Dermot Morgan and Ardal O’Hanlon from Father Ted.

£27m was raised that year for charitable causes, including fundraising efforts from people all over Hampshire who wanted to make that small change – big difference.

Tanya Hobbs from Eastleigh went to Thornden School dressed in her pyjamas, while Fareham company Hughes Transport Services filled a skip with thousands of red noses so shoppers could dive in and ‘pick their nose’ in the hope of winning a prize.

Further money was raised by a group of British Gas employees who set off from Newtown Fire Station in a vintage fire engine, hoping to get to their headquarters in Staines within 12 hours without money.

Red Nose Day has long had food like baked beans or jelly used for stunts, but 1997 saw one involving a very different type of food – dog food.

Andrew Nielson from Romsey chomped his way through a tin of dog food while dressed as man’s best friend.

Only Fools and Horses actor Buster Merryfield helped Hill House Hammond Insurance raise money by shaking a collection tin the city centre, and 200 pupils from Harefield Junior School sat on a single chair all at once.

On March 14, 1997:

- The average price of a pint of draught lager was £1.83.

- The Spice Girls’ Who Do You Think You Are was at number one in the UK singles chart whilst Pop from U2 dominated the UK album chart.

- Donnie Brasco was on at the cinema, although Return of the Jedi (Special Edition) was topping the box office.

- Fred Zinnemann, director of films such as High Noon, The Day of the Jackal and Oklahoma!, died of a heart attack at the age of 89.