A mixture of jazz, funk and soul classics will echo around the Town Hall in Downham Market on Saturday to help raise funds for charity.

Musicians from around West Norfolk have come together to form Sarah Mawby and the Bluenote Band and perform from 8pm in aid of the Robert Foot Leukaemia Fund.

The event only came to fruition following a chance meeting between Miss Mawby and her old primary school headteacher, Michael Foot who co-founded the charity.

Miss Mawby said: 'I first started to sing in local concerts and shows when I was at primary school and Mr Foot played an important part in my early musical career, letting me use the school assembly hall to practice both piano and singing during break times at school.

'After our meeting, I just couldn't stop thinking about how I would love to plan a charity gig to help raise funds for the charity so I contacted a few old friends from school to see if they'd be interested in playing in the band and before we knew it we had ourselves a concert.'

Miss Mawby added there will be music for all tastes, from the classic jazz standards of Gershwin and Cole Porter to the more recent funk and soul hits from Stevie Wonder and Amy Winehouse.

The Robert Foot Leukaemia Fund was established by Michael and Wendy Foot, of Walpole St Peter, near Wisbech, in memory of their son who died from leukaemia.

Robert Foot worked as a political advisor in Sierra Leone after years of civil war and he was made an OBE in 2001.

Mr Foot's leukaemia was diagnosed in October 2000 and he died on November 5, 2002, aged 33. Since 2002 the fund has raised around �130,000 which is split between the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn, Guy's Hospital in London and Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge – all places where Robert stayed.

Michael Foot said: 'We are most grateful to all who continue to support the fund so that Robert's influence for good can live on.'

Tickets for the event are priced at �8 for adults and �4 for children and are available from Lewks music shop in Wales Court, Downham Market or by calling Mr Foot on 01945 780468.