Brighton musician dies after cancer battle (From The Argus)

Brighton musician dies after cancer battle

12:00pm Tuesday 7th April 2009

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A musician who raised money for the Martlets Hospice has died following a battle with cancer.

Martin May, 51, a popular figure on the Brighton live music scene, died at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in the city on March 30 after a long fight against lymphoma, a cancer of the blood.

Mr May had played guitar in bands since he was a teenager and was involved with a number of groups in the city including the Moondogs, Lipstick, The Lone Sharks and The House Doctors.

He also gave up his time to organise the annual Music 4 Life events to raise money for the Martlets Hospice, after his musician friend Dave Room died there in 2002.

Wilf, a fellow musician, said: “Those of you who knew Martin will remember him for his blistering guitar work, his huge personality and the relentless energy he put into live music.

“He was central not only to gigs and charity events around the city, but also in supporting and welcoming the efforts of budding newcomers to the circuit. I am sure you will join me in saluting this amazing man.”

Mr May was born in Kingston but moved to Brighton as a child. He lived in Buckingham Place, Brighton, with his partner of 20 years Sue Lapwood.

Alongside his passion for music ran a love of economics, which Mr May studied as a mature student at the University of Sussex and at masters level at the London School of Economics.

Friend Jaq Bayles said: “He leaves a hole in the lives of those who knew him, but we are blessed for having known him. His legacy is in his music, his friends – and his notoriously wicked pickled onions.”

Mr May will be cremated along with his guitar and friends are asked to bring along photos and mementoes of him for Ms Lapwood to keep in a memory box, as the couple lost all of their personal possessions in a flat fire three years ago.

The funeral will be held in the South Chapel at Woodvale Crematorium in Lewes Road, Brighton tomorrow at 12.15pm. It will be followed by a musical tribute in the Lord Nelson pub in Trafalgar Street, Brighton.

Mr May would have been 52 on April 26 and there will a live music tribute at the Battle of Trafalgar pub in Guildford Road, Brighton, from 7pm.

Leave your tributes to Mr May below.

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