John MackMersh of Woolley Road, Matlock, organised a fundraising celebration to commemorate his wife Louise's life – and to showcase a band which formed at a party in her memory.

Louise died last May after a battle with cancer and John wanted to arrange a fun night for family and friends to remember his wife and raise money for Ashgate Hospice in Chesterfield, where she was treated.

Matlock band Slow Moon, which formed at a celebration party for Louise, has been selling its CD Viva Moon to raise funds for the hospice and were set to play at the party.

John said: " Louise was a bit of a party animal she absolutely loved music.

"It seemed very fitting that something really positive should come out of a very dismal time."

The plan was dashed at the last minute however when Maddisons – the venue for the celebration – closed and John was faced with over 100 guests arriving and nowhere to stage their party.

Fortunately landlady at The Sycamore Inn, Becky Mangnall Ross, came to the rescue.

John said: "Becky stepped in and said if we didn't have anywhere to play we could play there. It was good to see people helping each other and working together.

"Everyone was really happy to be involved and there was a real community feeling about it."

He added: "We had a cracking night. People moan about Matlock all the time but my friends from London thought it was great. It was just how they had fantasised a country pub would be."

Proceeds from Slow Moon's CD raised £800 and a further £200 was raised from a collection.

John and friends presented a cheque for £1,000 to the hospice on Friday.