THERE was a ‘lot of love in the room’ at a fundraising tribute evening for a man who was at the heart of Worcester’s Rock and Roll community.

Friends and family of Gerry Richardson packed out Gilt Edge Club in Kidderminster to remember the man who was well known to all as “Gerry from Worcester”.

Mr Richardson was well known and well-loved in the rock and roll community, having been on the scene since the 1970s.

He ran the very popular Rock and Roll Club at Christopher Whitehead Language College, in St John’s, for 12 years up until 2009.

 The night raised £1,500 for Primrose Hospice which supported Gerry and his partner Eve in the last months of his life.

In April 2017, Gerry was diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis. He died in November 2018, aged 76.

 His partner Eve Styles said: “Primrose supported Gerry and myself so well during the last months of his life, neither of us could imagine how we would have coped without them.”

She said: “People talk about him as a lovely man and a true gentleman. The dance was his idea and I promised him that I would make it happen.

“He wanted all of his friends to come together and remember him, to enjoy a really good evening and to raise money for Primrose.”

 She explained the biggest challenge was to make sure everyone who knew Gerry had heard about the dance.

 However, word quickly spread and the next challenge was making sure they all could fit in the room.

 “People came from all over the Midlands,” she said. “Extra chairs and tables were brought in from other rooms and there was a brief spell when we worried that we would have to turn people away but, just as we reached capacity, no more arrived.

“It was a phenomenal evening, with a lot of love in the room and the floor was constantly full.”

 Gerry’s favourite band, Mark Keeley’s Good Rockin’ Tonight performed during the evening and, along with DJ, JD (Just Dec), kept the floor full all evening.

 Mark delivered a lovely message from Colin Paul, a good friend of Gerry’s, who unfortunately could not be there.

 Eve added: “There was a real buzz in the room - as if someone had sprinkled magic dust. 

“There were a few tears at the end of the evening, when we formed a huge circle for Colin Paul’s American Trilogy – one of Gerry’s favourites.”

Sarah Harris, community fundraiser at Primrose Hospice, said: “The rock and roll night sounds like it was a wonderful tribute to Gerry.

“It is humbling to hear what a difference Primrose Hospice’s support makes to a family going through a difficult time.

“This support is only possible thanks to the fundraising efforts of our wonderful community.”

Primrose Hospice supports people with life-limiting conditions and their families living in north east Worcestershire.