A memorial day for Newtonian Phil Joss has raised thousands of pounds for charity.
Phil tragically died in a motorcycle accident on Middridge Road, in between Rushyford and Woodham Golf Club, on 7th June 2015, aged just 55.
His wife Lydia and brother-in-law Tony Norton organised a memorial event a year on, which was held at Aycliffe Big Club on 4th June.
Almost 300 tickets were sold for the 12-hour Soul Music event while 65 raffle prizes were donated.
A total of £3,280 was raised for the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS), which attended the scene near Woodham last summer.
Lydia – pictured (above, second left) with Tony, Philip’s brother Graeme and GNAAS fundraiser Harriet Langston – told Aycliffe Today: “The money raised could potentially save three lives, so it will make a difference, saving someone’s life in Philip’s name.
“We could have filled the club twice over, we had to turn some people away in the end.
“At one point there must have been 300 people there on the night. It wasn’t about being morbid, it was just a fun day, but raising money for a great cause.
“So it was a massive success. Everyone is asking when the next one is! It just shows how much Phil meant to people.”
Phil’s brother Graeme added: “Phil would have loved it. He’d have been first there and the last to leave.
“He was always known to be the first to Soul Nights and the last to leave. In fact there was a light moment during his funeral service when it was said ‘this is the first time Phil is the last to arrive and the first to leave’!”
Several individuals and companies donated raffle prizes, while local businessman Terry Kneeshaw donated sketches which fetched several hundreds of pounds in a blind auction.
Lydia, Tony and Graeme presented the cheque to GNAAS at Woodham Golf Club, where Phil had been a member.
“As well as Soul Music Philip absolutely loved his golf,” said Lydia.
“He always used to ring me when he was on the golf course. ‘I’m on the 9th hole and the greens are sublime!’ he used to say!
“He always had a way with words, he was such a charismatic character. He loved playing golf here and he loved Mandy’s braising steak, too!”
GNAAS fundraiser Harriet Langston added: “We’re purely funded by members of the public, so donations like this mean that we can keep going and keeping to develop.
“We’re well aware of the background to this story and we think it’s amazing that Lydia has managed to channel what happened into doing something for the Great North Air Ambulance Service, so the money raised is fantastic.”