• status quo

• jon lord

• ian paice

• steve white

• gary moore

• ray cooper

• linda lewis

On Thursday 20th September 2007, Jacky Paice hosted her second fabulous, unique and intimate rock ‘n’ roll charity evening of dinner and musical entertainment. The Sunflower Jam at The Porchester Halls, London W2, was again in aid of the Complementary Therapy Team working within cancer services at UCLH, who are building the bridge between traditional and complementary fields of medicine. It was an amazing evening featuring an incredible one-off line up of musicians in an intimate atmosphere, and was a resounding success. A substantial amount of money, and awareness, was raised for the charity for the wonderful work of The Sam Buxton Sunflower Healing Trust. Supported by HRH The Prince’s Foundation for Integrated Health. BBC 24 were also there to interview guests and capture the event which was featured on their entertainment program.

Celebrities arriving with the dinner guests included Kathy Lette, Frida from ABBA, Damon Hill, Sinead Cusack and Sir John Mortimer, whilst fans and photographers gathered outside the venue.

The evening started with a Champagne Reception on the Grand Staircase sponsored by The Crooked Billet Restaurant. The mood was enhanced by the attendance of beautiful belly dancers as guests made their way in to the main hall, past display boards explaining the support given to patients, families and staff by the therapists involved with The Sam Buxton Sunflower Healing Trust.

In the glitzy rock ‘n’ roll style hall, the evening heated up quickly as guests watched the tantalisingly gorgeous Mia Serra and the Marshalla Belly Dance Company performing as drinks were served alongside Paul Clerehugh’s (The Crooked Billet) delicious organic, culinary delights as guests watched the dancers. They were seduced into buying raffle tickets and were well warmed up the auction and the band.

Angie Buxton King and Graham King were next up, as co-directors of The Sam Buxton Sunflower Healing Trust they explained the work of the charity, thanked everyone for their involvement and introduced a short but very moving documentary featuring some of the children and families who had received treatment this past year. Some of these families were in attendance, as well as some of the Doctors including Dr Maria Michelagnoli, Consultant Paediatric/Adolescent Oncologist at UCLH. Dr Michelagnoli endorsed the belief that healing is an integral part of the services patients in the ward receive, and that complementary therapies are not just a luxury, but an essential part of the patient experience. Their speeches and the film were received with rapturous but respectful applause in the room.

The auction featuring rare memorabilia and a raffle were next on the agenda. Auctioneer of the evening, Henry Wyndham, chairman of Sothebys was introduced and encouraged by the cheerful and witty compere, Jeremy Irons. Some incredible lots auctioned included:

Stella McCartney Goodie bag donated by Stella herself, a Signed Fender telecaster Status Quo Guitar, A Music Man Sub guitar in textured black signed by all current members of Deep Purple, Ian Paice’s Bass drum head signed by all artists on the night, A Roadie for a day with Status Quo, Yamaha RGX A2 electric white/baby blue guitar signed by all the artists on the night, A Signed Paul McCartney composer/artist song book and A Silver sparkle pearl masters drum kit used by Ian Paice as main stage kit between 2000 and 2005.

Guests were tempted to part with their money and purchase pieces of rock n roll history including bidding in advance of it even being done for the painting to be created later on that night of the band playing by painter Craig Kilford as part of his ongoing project – ‘It’s only rock n roll (and I paint it)’

An intimate evening of Rock n Roll was promised and delivered, and what a band! With performances from Status Quo, Ian Paice, Jon Lord, Steve White, Gary Moore, Roger Glover, Linda Lewis, Paul ‘Wix’ Wickens, Nick Fyffe, Margo Buchanan, Steve Balsamo, Aitch McRobbie and Ray Cooper. Band and guest artists made light work of new renditions of their own and other’s songs and had the guests dancing between tables and at the front as well known tunes filled the hall.

As carriages arrived, guests left with happy faces and some great memories of a truly spectacular one off night.

The event was recorded for posterity, by photographer Fin Costello who donated some of his signed historic rock n roll photos for the auction and whose pictures are featured on this website.

Donations can be sent throughout the year along with items for raffle and auction – all of which would be gratefully received to:

Jacky Paice for The Sunflower Jam Charity, PO Box 4736, Henley on Thames, RG9 9BT