I would like to express my sincere thanks to the large and appreciative crowd of people who supported the Parkinson's Project charity gig on Sunday at The Corton Inn.

I would like to express my sincere thanks to the large and appreciative crowd of people who supported the Parkinson's Project charity gig on Sunday at The Corton Inn.

This venue generously hosted the third in what seems to be a growing occasion on the local music calendar.

Music is the great healer and universal leveller - and that was a point that I was trying to communicate in my nervous and fumbling introduction. Hence me wishing to clarify it here!

I was recalling how a certain person had inspired me to take a more positive attitude towards this debilitating disease when she delivered a talk entitled 'How lucky I am to have Parkinson's'. The message I wanted to get over was that I now knew what she meant - the things that have happened to me and things I have done, all the old friendships that have been strengthened and renewed, and the new ones that have been forged, are because of Parkinson's.

Yes, it's life changing. No, I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. But you have to wrestle with it and extract the positive things.... which with love and help you'll find if you look hard enough.

I can but thank the wonderful Project people; too many to mention by name but they know who they are.

I must however highlight a few; Dave Norton, who does most of the organising; a band who came from Ipswich and acted as a 'spare' (with all their gear in the van); Norwich-based Coupe DeVille who found themselves drummer-less at the last minute and fearless Tim Marriot who then sat behind the kit having only met the rest of the band at the bar and delivered a faultless performance.

And boy, am I proud to call all involved my friends.

Gary Woods,

London Road South

Lowestoft