November will mark Whitco’s 25^th birthday. We’ll be celebrating in style – and marking the occasion by partying in a good cause.

Our celebrations at the Raj restaurant in Kettering on November 1 will also provide financial support to fight motor neurone disease (MND), which claimed the life of Whitco founder Jeff Whitaker in 2018. Jeff provided help and advice to the Raj’s owner Goyas Miah when he was looking to set up his restaurant in 1991. Jeff and his wife Vita went on to become loyal customers of the restaurant.

The Raj (therajrestaurant.net) will be donating a percentage of the night’s takings to the Motor Neurone Disease Association. The charity improves care and support for people with MND, their carers and families.   

Says Goyas: “The Raj opened in 1991. I was a 21-year-old without much experience in a commercial kitchen. Jeff guided me and advised me to have the perfect kitchen and put the correct equipment in The Raj.

Help and advice

“I will never forget how much help and advice he gave me. To this day I will always remember how Jeff went out of his way to put me on the road to becoming a successful restaurateur. It was the aftercare which I appreciated and respected from Jeff. It wasn’t just a question of selling the equipment and losing interest. He made sure I was doing ok. And if I ever needed his help, he was always there for me .”

Says Whitco’s Vita Whitaker: “The Raj is also very dear to my heart. It probably accounts for the most meals eaten out or taken away that Jeff and I ever ate.  Even as his illness progressed, he remained a loyal customer. The restaurant also played host to many family occasions and parties. So it seemed a natural venue for Whitco’s birthday celebrations.

“So, amongst all the cheers and congratulations on our birthday party night, we will celebrate our success and remember Jeff, who put us all there. I am sure he will be watching over us, as he never liked to miss out on a party. 

“So, it only feels right to add some fundraising for the Motor Neurone Disease Association in support of others past and present who are suffering from this awful and very scary disease.”

Book a table or donate
If you can, please book a table and support us or just order a takeaway. For those who have never been before, we can guarantee you will not be disappointed.  If you can’t do either, please make a donation to the Motor Neurone Disease Association (www.mndassociation.org), quoting Whitco/JeffWhitaker@TheRaj, reference 601532. The charity’s bank sort code is 30-96-09 and the account number is 02952679.