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Linslade musician back on the stage
Stroke could have ended his career
A LINSLADE musician has strummed his way back to health after a stroke almost ended his life.
His recovery through music has been so good that this weekend he will be back on stage with his band playing a fundraising gig for the Luton & Dunstable Hospital, where he was nursed back from the brink.
Talented guitar player Andrew King, 53, of Rothschild Road, had a stroke in February.
It was caused by a previously undetected heart problem which sent a clot up to his brain stem, where the bleed occurred. His wife Gill said he was lucky to survive.
Throughout his confinement, the semi-professional musician was determined to carry on playing his beloved guitar and entertained fellow patients on the ward daily.
Gill said: "Music is good therapy as it raises levels of consciousness.
He picked up his guitar after the stroke and played as if nothing had happened. Andrew loves doing gigs and this is the biggest one he has done since his stroke."
Andrew suffered slight memory delay, although the musical side was completely unaffected. He also gets tired. Fortunately, there was no paralysis, but he is unable to drive.
This prompted Andrew and his band members Sheena Masson, Martin Appleby, Rob Gifford and Kevin Adams, to raised cash for the stroke unit so it could buy special equipment to assess a patient's ability to drive while recovering.
Andrew's high-energy, English Ceilidh band, Stmp, will play at the L&D Social Club, Calnwood Road, Luton, LU4 ODZ, this Saturday, October 3, at 7.30pm.
Adam Hughes will be caller for the gig which will cover folk, jazz, rock and acoustic sounds.
All money taken on the night will go to the unit.
Sister Weldon of the stroke unit said: "We were really touched to hear that the Kings were organising this event for the unit.
"It's great to see that Andrew is back out there doing what he loves best and he will always be remember for Stmp coming to visit and playing for the ward."
>> Tickets 10 (or 5 for children 16 and under), see this week's Citizen for contact details.
>> Find out more about the band by visiting its website www.stompceilidh.co.uk
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Weather for Leighton Buzzard
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
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Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
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