Ted Masseys Charity Memorial Allnighter - Rugely

Well being one of the chosen 400 to be honoured to attend this event for such a well loved and generous man words fail me to describe the night.

We arrived 15 minutes after the doors were opened to find the place buzzing, with people showing their respect for Ted. The whole organising of this event was nothing but superb and the varying music being provided the the DJs was awesome. There was music for everybody, some records known and some new to some of us.

The floor was well prepared for dancing and was never empty all through the night.

I'm not going to point out any DJ that was exceptional as they all were.

I would like to once again thank the organisers for putting together such a tribute to a popular DJ and that it may become an annual event.

Honoured isn't really adequate.

Ted would've been blushing at this, proud too of just a few of his many, many genuine friends in that room, we were privileged to be there, of that no one should be in any doubt.

From the first record to warm up the decks until the drifter threw us out at 6am we were taken on a journey of rare soul that any event anywhere in the world and at any time would have struggled to match.

From the moment we touched down in Rugeley after a frantic trip from the great Pangbourne 'dayer, landing at the hotel, we were met with friends from far & near, united just for this event.

I'm genuinely going to have to buck myself up this week - as I've felt on a massive down since driving back south yesterday, the inevitability of such a 'high' and without anything artificial to cause it either!

I can't praise anyone higher than Taz for this event, sure the others were essential too, but Taz was the driving force here -and it showed.

Promotors know the hard work that goes on that punters rarely see, even more stressful when it HAS to be right ALL of the time as this can only be done the once.

It was a triumph, but more than that -it was a fitting tribute to a man taken too soon.

There were 400 people there who can now say very proudly they wore Villas colours for at least a few hours!

Edited yesterday at 07:331 day by Timbo58

It was indeed a "bostin night" as they say in these parts, I arrived around 7.30 and it was well and truly buzzing, it was great to see a venue that busy and the dance floor moving. I heard some great music played, with a balanced mix of style and taste both old and new. There were plenty of faces I hadn't seen for a while, fair to say I enjoyed every minute of it until my legs refused to dance anymore and I ventured home

Big thank you to the organisers, and DJ's for making this a special night to remember Ted.

One of the most packed soul do's I've ever been to. Totally high calibre of DJ's so the music was outstanding, a wonderfull and fitting tribute to a great man. Incredibly well organised too with lovely little touches like the claret and blue wristbands and, of course, a floor so immaculate that anyone can dance on it without recourse to any outside assistance.

Would be awesome if this did become an annual event.

Edited yesterday at 11:131 day by Timillustrator

Where to begin ………..

Wow wow wow 🤩😯😱🤯

Firstly I’m immensely proud of what we acheived last night.

400 Revellers from all over the place came together to Celebrate the life of the one and Ted Massey

We had people from all over the U.K. and even from the states and Europe turned out in full force.

We got to the venue at 530pm with people already arriving 🤯

Doors officially opened at 7pm but we allowed people through from 6pm to help with the congestion.

Now let me tell you this doesn’t happen anymore like days of old, Ted’s night was on 7pm - 6am and by 730pm we were very busy. By 8pm we were rammed out and I mean rammed out.

The coming together of all genres of the scene from the oldies to the children of the night, the RnB the rare to the funk crews.
Also fellow DJ’s turning out that wasn’t playing and to promoters of successful nighters, all dayers and various soul clubs from around the U.K. all in attendance to make this night a special event.

The idea why I decided to put this tribute event on for my friend was due to the private funeral and many of the soul community wanted to pay their own respects to the maestro that couldn’t do this at the funeral.

The idea was only to ever make money for Ted’s chosen charity the British Heart Foundation.

I will do a follow up post with the full total of what we have all raised in the coming days.

We all have our own ways of dealing with grief of a loved one.

Ted was very special to me as you all will be aware as your all reading this.
I felt I needed to do something for him to celebrate his life with a gathering he would have been humbled but very proud of what we acheived last night.

This night will always be with me as I can quite honestly say we smashed it it was that good

Some special thank you’s from me personally :

Firstly for the pocket rocket wife, what an amazing woman not long since having major back surgery and she took charge of all administration and control of the door with spreadsheets last night I could not have done it without your help babe 🙏❤️

Ian Pep Pereira for giving up his niter date and venue and working with me for allowing us to put this special event on cheers dude 🙏❤️

Soul Mafia On Wax for their awesome sound system in the venue Hugh Frank Deeley, Rico,Sara and Deano you know how much you guys mean to me🙏❤️

For the epic wristband I choose in Ted’s beloved Villa colours which pleased a few Blue Nose and Wolves supporters 😉🤣🙏❤️

Sara Baker for her guidance, support and advice and helping Kimmie on the door last night love ya 🙏❤️

The DJ’s each and everyone of you played your part and thanks again for wavering your fees and making this night special for us all 🙏❤️

Ted’s family for giving their blessing for putting this event on and having one of Ted’s Niece and husband and their two lads come along, representing his family and to see the love in the room from Ted Soul family 🙏❤️

We had an idea to hang Ted’s shirts around the foyer area which was emotional but so fitting and we ended up selling a good number of shirts raising more money for the charity 🙏❤️

H the door supervisor was brillant as she worked tirelessly randomly doing bag searches and her massive effort in moving cars illegally parked up the street to appease the committee members 🙏❤️

Not forgetting my eldest daughter Pee for her support keeping us refuelled with drinks and food 🙏❤️

We had a shakey start with only 1 behind the bar early doors but we got there in the end.
I don’t think they realised the sheer size of the numbers expected in from early doors.

Thanks to Lea Hall club and all staff I reckon you had a belter of a bar take 🙏❤️

And lastly to you all who have attended or given donations towards the charity🙏❤️

This night was Truly awesome and emotional for me, the buzz and the atmosphere in the room last night I really don’t think will be matched it’s was as good as it gets 🙏❤️

Thank you all who took time out to personally thank me and the team from good friends and colleagues to so many people I have never met your kind words and support means everything to me 🙏❤️

All I can now say to my bestie looking down on me, Ted would be brimming with his infectious smile, with so much love and affection he would have been honoured and proud what we all acheived last night 🙏❤️

We did our very best Maestro, you will never ever be forgotten 💙💙

Now time to rest heal my broken body and maybe just maybe we do it again next year, who knows a bigger venue perhaps 😉 if there’s a call to keep Ted’s memory alive. We may just do it 💃🎶🙏❤️

Love to you all Taz 🙏❤️💙