MUSIC Night regulars Don and Jo Pears and fellow York amateur music and drama performers are holding a memorial concert in memory of David Bushby on Sunday at the theatre that became synonymous with him.

Mr Bushby, who died last June at the age of 70, was theatre manager of the Joseph Rowntree Theatre, in Haxby Road, from 1970 to his retirement in 2001 when Nestle handed over the management to a volunteer group.

He had played a prominent part in the lives of many amateur theatrical and musical groups during his 41-year tenure, first under Rowntree and later Nestlé, having started his involvement as a stage and props manager.

Mr Bushby had joined Rowntree at 21, constructing air conditioning and repairing metal pallets, after serving his apprenticeship as a sheet metal worker at Cooks, Troughton and Simms.

He performed for a couple of years with the York Youth Operatic and Choral Society, but once he was too old for that company, he switched to stage management, prompted in part by receiving a tool kit among his wedding presents.

Once he progressed to theatre manager, his duties encompassed stage management; supervising; making arrangements with amateur theatre societies; programming; front-of-house management; lighting and sound.

All proceeds from Sunday night’s York Remembers David Bushby concert will be donated to York Hospital Renal Unit.

Tickets for the 7.30pm event cost £10 on 01904 639117 or 01904 623568 or at jrtheatre.co.uk