Musicians are to host an event to remember Holmfirth man Adrian Smith.
Dozens of performers will take over The Postcard pub on Huddersfield Road on June 19 to raise money to fund a lasting memorial to the town’s street cleaner, who tragically died on May 14 after being attacked outside KFC on New Street in Huddersfield.
Starting at 7pm, seven acts will take to the stage to raise as much money as possible, which will also be split between Adrian’s chosen charities, Red Cross and Médecins Sans Frontières.
Those on the bill include The Moot, Bisley, Sammy D, Warren Blond, Rhys Booth Hammond, Irene Antonella Pirrera, James Munroe and Chris Sykes.
One of the musicians behind the event, Eryl Whiteley of The Moot, said: “Adrian loved live music and used to support local bands like us by going to gigs so the whole local music community was quite affected when we heard what had happened to him and thought that a music event would be a good way to pay tribute to him.
“He was a proper character and really enjoyed the Postcard Inn so we have decided to host it there.
“It will be a free event but of course we welcome donations.”
She explained the fundraising was initially going to secure money for his funeral.
Eryl said: “Initially, we weren’t in touch with his family so were going to raise money for his funeral but then Dominic Beresford of Bisley got in contact with them so we decided to use the money to create a memorial instead.
“We’re not sure what exactly this will be at the moment– our plan, once we’ve held the event, is to ask people via the Holmfirth Community Facebook page what sort of memorial they would like to see erected.”
Meanwhile, a former girlfriend of Adrian Smith, Sue Buckle, who has unveiled more photos of him, is the latest to pay her respects.
Sue, 69, who lives in Hyde Park in Leeds, said: “I was devastated when I heard what had happened.
“We met on a bus going down to a demonstration in London in support of the seamen’s strike in 1966 and then dated for around four years.
“He was passionate about life and politics and was in the International Socialists and attended demonstrations in Europe, such as a Young Socialists one in Liege, Belgium.
“We also went on some wonderful holidays together, which saw us hitchhike to North Italy and Turkey, where on the way back he was made to shave his beard in order to be allowed to cross into Bulgaria.”
