Rock legends play charity gig for gran

Gina and Peter Sugden have organised a charity concert in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support

Throwback band the Original Jukebox Heroes are to play a concert in South Normanton with proceeds going to the charity.

Gina Sudgen, 51, from Sutton-in-Ashfield, is masterminding the event after her mum, Audrey Penn died in June last year, aged 79.

She has even managed to book the collective of 70s rockers who made their names with the likes of Slade, Bay City Rollers and Sweet.

Gina has secured the band Original Jukebox Heroes and organised the gig in ememroy of her mum Audrey who lost her battle with cancer last year.

Gina said: “She was more than my mum - she was my best friend.

“She would be very proud I’ve done this for her and she’s have loved to come.

“Just over two years ago my mum was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and she was told she wouldn’t live.

“She was in a home and wanted to die at home, so I took over as her full time carer and Macmillan nurses came three or four times a day to help me, and give her what she needed.

“She passed away last June and I wanted to give something back to Macmillan. They meant she could be at home with her family around her.”

Great-grandmother Audrey was a big music lover, added Gina. “After my dad died in 1985 she still had a lust for life, right up until she became ill. She was was incredibly social, she loved music and dancing. “

Her husband Peter Sudgen, 56, said he was amazed by what Gina was doing for the charity.

The retired IT engineer said: “Audrey was a very gracious lady and Gina has been absolutely amazing, She came up with this - it’s all her impetus and I’ve jumped on the band wagon and said ‘okay let’s make a really make a show of it’, because that’s what Audrey deserves.”

Some 300 tickets are available with a number reserved for key supporters - and with help from Barclays bank, which has pledged to match the money raised up to £1,000, the event could be in line to raise a bundle.

The Original Jukebox Heroes is a supergroup made up of former band members including Philip Wright of Paper Lace, Jeff Brown from Sweet, Steve Whalley of Slade, Dave Major of T-Rex and Phil Hendricks - who plays for Les Mckeown’s Bay City Rollers, which were Gina’s favourite band.

They’ll be playing classics like Ballroom Blitz, and Come On Feel the Noize.

Gina added: “I appreciate them all coming because they come from all over the UK. They’re coming because they also think it’s a great cause as well.” The charity concert is at The Post Mill Centre, Market Street, South Normanton, on Saturday, April 30, 6pm. £20 or £21.00 posted. Tickets are available from 01623360155, email [email protected], or pay online at paypal.me/ginasugden.