Recently, a series of gigs, events and lectures took place up and down the country to celebrate the life, energy, wit, wisdom and legacy of the late John Peel. An experienced and unique broadcaster, he sound-tracked millions of people's lives during a 40 year period that took him from the pirate-station Radio London, to the occasionally stuffy BBC Radio corridors just behind London's Oxford Street.

His late-night Radio 1 show became synonymous with ground-breaking music that ranged from loud to soft, light to heavy, beautiful to monotone, intricate to repetitive, or Napalm Death to The Cuban Boys and their singing hamsters (no really). His Peel Sessions and Festive Fifty slots are still argued over, still discussed over a pint and remain part of musical folklore. The legacy surely has to continue...

Close to Peel's Suffolk home in Stowmarket, the John Peel Centre for Creative Arts was founded to provide a base for local artists to showcase their creativity for all to see. Honorary patron of the centre is John's wife Sheila says:

John had catholic tastes, so it wasn't just about loud music. He played all sorts of music and that's what we'll be doing. It will be fully developed so that we have rehearsal rooms, performance space and hopefully lots and lots of people will use it.

In order to continue this development and an all-important (but expensive) refurbishment, the patrons of the centre are trying to raise much-needed funds to the tune of £25,000. In order to do this they are calling upon the kind-spirited arts-lovers amongst you to register with the 'crowdfunding' site, AngelShares, and donate what you can to help the cause.

You can read more about the John Peel Centre for Creative Arts refurb project here: www.johnpeelcentreforcreativearts.co.uk and glean more information about AngelShares here - www.angelshares.com/page/about-us