Charity gig at The Chesters pub, Balderton, for family of wonderful Newark father
Former band members of a musician are to play a benefit gig to raise money for his widow and three young children after he was killed in an industrial incident at work.
The parents of Lee Perry, from Newark, paid tribute to a respectful son who could turn his hand to anything, while friends described a loyal mate who was a motivator to his pals.
Fellow musician Ant MacAndrew, who played alongside Lee, has put together a gig at the Chesters, Balderton, for the bassist and will play songs they once performed together.
It will raise money for Lee's wife, Drilona, and their children, Isaac, 5, Bella, 3, and Ellie, 7 months, following the 36-year-old's sudden death at work on October 16.
"Those children will now live their whole lives without their dad," said Lee's father, Jeff.
"He led such an eventful life. It was a short life, but he crammed so much into it."
Lee's mother, Carol, said: "He always had rhythm. He came home from school one day with a cello and I asked him if he couldn't have found anything smaller.
"Thankfully that didn't last long.
"He played the organ, drums and guitar — he could turn his hand to anything."
Lee joined the Royal Signals and was in the Gulf War in Iraq, laying communication lines behind the lines.
"Having four sons, you do imagine this sort of thing — the knock at the door — particularly when they are in the Army, but when the police came at 5am it was such a shock. You can never prepare for losing a child.
"He was a fantastic man, my boy, and I will always remember the wonderful things he has done."
Lee was popular at Balfour Beatty, where he was a supervisor and health and safety representative, and was named employee of the month.
"In work, Lee always went above and beyond the call of duty, was the first to put his hand up, and I suspect that is what did for him," Jeff said.
"One man he met at work was new and Lee thought that he could do with a friend.
"That man has told us that Lee was the best and only friend he ever had. He saw him as his brother and took him to show him his country (Albania) and that's how he met Drilona, the love of his life.
"He called her honey every day, his son buddy and doted on his two lovely daughters."
The gig is in the function room at The Chesters pub, Balderton, from 8pm on November 22 and also includes an auction, for which donations are sought.
Lee's former bands, The Jonny Guns and The Dolls, will perform their own tracks and some classics.
Ant said: "Lee 'Pez' Perry was such a great character — he was so much to so many people.
"With illness, there's usually time to get to grips with losing someone, but when they go so suddenly it's so much harder to take and to understand.
"We thought that we needed to do something to provide for his family."
A Three Peaks Challenge is also planned. To donate to that, go to www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/perrys3peaks
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