A charity jam night is being held in memory of a car and bike enthusiast Nigel Mallett, 64, who died suddenly from leukaemia in June of last year.

Spixworth social club will be holding the music event on February 7 in aid of the Anthony Nolan Trust that recruits donors to the bone marrow register, finding donors who have matching stem cells or bone marrow.

The evening is being organised by Mr Mallett's friend and business partner for 40 years, John Hipperson, 66, from Sprowsten, who said: 'I knew Nigel for a long time. We met in Norwich, and used to go on holidays with our wives. So when Nigel's wife Sarah mentioned she was raising money for the Anthony Nolan Trust I decided to put a jam session on to raise a bit of money too.'

Mr Mallett, a former joiner and carpenter from Sprowston, was told last summer he had just weeks to live before being offered a trial treatment of two 25 doses of chemotherapy 10 days apart.

After this, Mr Mallett went into remission, but to fully beat the disease he needed a stem cell transplant, used to treat cancers that are in the bone marrow. Unfortunately his age meant the only suitable donor was his brother Tom, who was not a match.

Sarah Mallett said last June: 'He enjoyed life to the full. He never let anything get in his way. It took him two or three days to do it, but he would do it and never moaned about anything and just took it all in his stride.'

A father of two, Sam and Matt, and grandfather of Sequoia, his wife of 45 years described him as a 'man of kindness and determination'.

Mr Hipperson is confident of a enjoyable evening. He said: 'It's always good to do something for charity, to try and make it count.'

The evening will run from 7,30pm until midnight, with a big selection of local bands featuring. Mr Hipperson estimated 20-30 musicians would be performing, with the drummer from Lou and the Diamonds, Emma Hall and her backing singers on the list.

As well as live music, the charity night will also have a raffle with bottles of spirits as prizes, and an auction including a ride in a Beaufort vintage car, and a carpenter for a days work,

Mr Hipperson said they were hoping to raise of �700 for the trust, and are still looking for a compare for the evening.

If you know someone who would make a good compere, or you want to help raise money, call the social club on 01603 890864 or call John on 07920426929.

Are you organising a charity event? Contact reporter David Freezer on 01603 772418 or david.freezer@archant.co.uk