AN EMOTIONAL evening of music and memories paid a fitting tribute to an Ipswich woman and raised funds for charity.

Tom Potter

AN EMOTIONAL evening of music and memories paid a fitting tribute to an Ipswich woman and raised funds for charity.

Talented singer June Scopes died in January, aged 70, from liver disease and her family decided to celebrate her eventful life with a charity dance in aid of the British Liver Trust.

Mrs Scopes was told 13 years ago that she would need a transplant to survive but she surprised doctors with her positive attitude and lived happily without a new liver.

She was a member of several local bands and sang with Wild Honey in the seventies and eighties. Her husband Stan played rhythm guitar and the band performed regular charity gigs, so her family thought it appropriate to get the old line-up back together to celebrate her life.

Mrs Scopes' daughter Karen Storey, of Radcliffe Drive, said: “She was such a fantastic lady and we wanted to honour her charity.

“The band used to do a lot of charity concerts so it's fitting that this one was also for a good cause.”

The gig went down a storm at Holbrook village hall and could have sold out twice according to Mrs Storey. Nearly 150 people turned up and some of Mr Scopes' old musician friends joined in, some having not picked up an instrument for 20 years.

Her son Jason also played guitar with the reformed seven piece outfit.

Country and Western was the order of the day with a smattering of Rock n Roll hits but whatever the style, the audience were on their feet and enjoying the occasion.

The gig raised £1,645 which will go to a piece of equipment for the charity. Mrs Scopes was also a keen artist and one of her paintings was auctioned for £150.

Mrs Storey said: “It couldn't have gone better. We wanted to honour her and all she gave to everyone she knew.

“She was a wonderful, loving and caring lady who was devoted to her husband and all her family and friends.”

- Are you organising an event to remember someone special? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk