SANDY Martin, aka Mr Swindon, will be remembered once again this year when some of the biggest names in the town’s music scene gather to pay tribute.

Sandy died in 2011 at the age of 53, after being diagnosed with a brain tumour five months previously. He was a household name around the town, having made his mark on the nightclub scene as a DJ at the Brunel Rooms. He joined BBC Wiltshire in 1998, hosting a range of shows including the World Tour of Wiltshire.

Every year since his death, his friends and former DJs from the Brunel Rooms have organised a tribute night while raising money for charity. This year, the event takes place on May 2 at 20 at The Kings in Old Town from 8pm.

Tony McCluskey, who used to spin the decks with Sandy at the Brunel Rooms, said: “This event is from the DJs to Sandy. Not only was he a brilliant DJ, he was a close friend to everyone in Swindon. “We have no problem selling the tickets when they go on sale, people look forward to the annual event. The music is the stuff Sandy used to play at the Brunel Rooms and we get all the other DJs that used to work with him back together.

“Sandy put Swindon on the map. The Brunel Rooms was the place to be every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. People would travel from miles away and that was all down to Sandy.”

In previous years, the event has raised money for Prospect Hospice and the Sandy Martin Memorial Fund, but this year money will go to the paediatric emergency department at the Great Western Hospital.

Tony, who is a nurse at the GWH, said: “I work at the hospital so the paediatric emergency department is a cause close to my heart. “This year I wanted to put the money towards the hospital – Sandy has got two young children so I know it is a cause he would approve of.

“When I worked at the old hospital, Sandy helped me out, I was trying to raise money for a cardiac monitor and he was the first one to help. Anything to do with charities, he always wanted to help.”

The theme for this year’s event will be Disco Trekkin’, in honour of a weekly programme Sandy had on commercial station GWR.

Tony would like to thank 20 at The Kings for the use of the venue and Originzone, for their help with the posters.

Entry to the event is £2.50 and tickets can be purchased in advance from the Wood Street venue, or on the door.