GoFundMe to send vinyl collection from Chatteris to Canada

Geoffrey Gardner, who is on ‘end of life’ life care, has been a big band and jazz music fan all his life and been collecting records since he was 14 so has amassed a massive collection.

After living in March since the early 1950s, he moved to his daughter Pam Joyce's home in Chatteris last year so she could care for him. 

When the family emptied his house, they put all his records and memorabilia into storage.

Geoffrey Gardner with his vinyl collection (Image: Pam Joyce)

Pam said: "We have tried many places to find someone who would want to take the collection and appreciate it, and we were giving it - not selling - to a good home.

"However, nobody was interested as that genre of music from the 30s and 40s is not in trend at the moment.

"Dad's dying wish is for someone to appreciate and enjoy his music collection." 

Pam recently posted on the Syd Lawrence Orchestra Facebook page offering the collection with the hope of targeting people who have a similar interest.

The story of Geoffrey Gardner and his vinyl collection made the local newspaper many years ago (Image: Pam Joyce)

A man from Canada who has a show on a local radio station has since come forward to say that he would "love and treasure it in dad's honour and play some of his music on the show".

However, to ship it all to him, would cost £7,000 plus VAT.

"He did say he would pay the shipping cost, until we got some quotes and found out how much it would be. 

"Understandably, he said was not able to pay all that."

Geoffrey Gardner on his 96th birthday (Image: Pam Joyce)

To help out, Pam set up a GoFundMe page earlier this week. Already, it has reached just over £500 and neighbours are holding raffles and trying to help fundraise too.

"It's just amazing but, then, my dad is such a wonderful man and everybody loves him."

People can donate via https://gofund.me/189a0b59 or by bank transfer by contacting Pam on 07703 272132.