Nick’s mates jam again for him

Nick Dee, a former member of the 1970s and 80s Leamington band Cheeky, died last year after suffering from cancer of the oesophagus.

His wife Mandy asked his fellow band members if they would consider playing a gig in tribute to the father-of-six, whose sons now all play in bands.

That gig happened at the Old Leamingtonians Rugby Club last Friday night - and more than £1,600 was raised to buy musical equipment for young people.

Speaking afterwards, Chris Southorn, who along with Nick Chimes, Dave Page and Martin Hainsworth performed together for the first time in 25 years, said: “It was exactly as if we had put a band in a cupboard for 30 years and then taken it out again. It felt great.

“When we finished, it was like waking up and finding we were in 2012 again.”

Mr Dee’s four sons also played at the gig, with one of the guitars they used being the first one Mr Dee had owned.

Mr Southorn said: “We projected a picture of Nick behind the stage and I spoke a bit about why we were there. There was a certain poignancy to the night.”

Mr Chimes told the Courier that Cheeky used to play around 80 gigs a year, including at what used to be Hinton’s Wine Bar off Regent Street and the former Willoughby pub.

Mr Dee’s wife Mandy said: “It went better that we could have ever imagined. Nick would have loved to see all the guys playing together again. It was just like rolling back the years.”

Proceeds from the gig will be spent on buying guitars and amps for young people in schools around Warwick district where Mr Dee used to teach guitar music.

The Dee family, who live in Northend, are hoping that they can continue to raise funds to set up a charity dedicated to this cause.