Son organises music fundraiser at The Bradstow Mill in Broadstairs in memory of dad Daniel Kennard

A music fundraiser in Broadstairs this November will be held in memory of music enthusiast Daniel Kennard who lost his life to pancreatic cancer in August this year.

The event, taking place at the Bradstow Mill in Broadstairs on November 29, will raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support and is being organised by son Danny.

Dan Snr, who previously worked at Gore Brothers funeral directors, was the son of Vernon and Jill Kennard who founded Kennard’s music shop in Cliftonville.

He was also a musician, although not professionally, and played guitar and piano.

Son Danny said: “Dad was a musician  and could play the piano and guitar to a really good standard. I’ve got fond memories of hearing him noodle away, he could lay down some serious flamenco guitar playing.

“He was a really eccentric guy and quite quirky which was always entertaining, he’d have a new hobby all the time.

“He was quite nifty with his hands, fixing up old writing slopes and selling them on for a bit of profit. At first I thought it was a bit weird but once I started to see them finished, some of them were beautiful!

“Dad was also very good with words, he wrote his own book about working as an undertaker and he had a collection of poems that he had written.

“When it came to layers my dad had quite a few. He was a lot of fun. Anyone who knew him will remember his sense of humour and how he held everyone’s attention when telling a story.

“He was gentle and calm and that’s what I loved most about having him as a dad. He really helped me through any tough situation I was in.

“On the 31st of August he passed away from a very aggressive and short battle with pancreatic cancer. This unfortunately caused a rapid decline which none of us anticipated, I certainly wasn’t ready to witness any of that.

“This was my first time experiencing cancer first hand and up close and I still don’t know how to find the words to describe what happened to dad and our family.

“Anyone who has lost a loved one or works with cancer patients will understand the sheer shock that comes with situations like this and how surreal and hopeless it can all feel.”

Danny has decided to use music to honour his dad and raise funds for Macmillan.

The 27-year-old is a musician, playing with band Delicia, and his band will be joined at the event by FineLime, Giani Scalera, Zac Schulze Gang and The Worry People

He said: “I chose these bands because during the time when dad got diagnosed, I was out gigging and trying to hold it together before and after gigs.

“Anyone who had been through this understands the “numbness” that comes with it but anytime one of these bands took the stage I suddenly felt okay and had a brief few moments of feeling normal,  that’s the power of music.

“This event is a thank you to my friends on the music scene and thank you to Macmillan for getting us through it to some extent. It’s also a thank you to my family and close mates, I think we deserve a wicked gig and a chance to remember Dad in a musical environment.”

The charity gig night kicks off from 6.30pm on November 29, Bradstow Mill, Broadstairs. A collection will take place during the event in aid of Macmillan.

The bands

Finelime has a new single release “So Fine” released on October 30 – https://open.spotify.com/artist/6OWLpsnJD10Zech5imSHdh?si=Uma6xEraTv2IO4wEB9OVxg

Giani Scalera and the Jury’s latest single is called “No More” – https://open.spotify.com/artist/3GbEhW6My1wHemDXTeb5a0?si=dPxiZ9FmRLKM0a5kgKFtDg

Zac Schulze Gang have recently dropped an album called “Straight To It” – https://open.spotify.com/artist/3qvVjXmsWmDBEomXDVMOtS?si=RjpxeWTnRiChDWzf6X0ooQ

The Worry People recently released a track called Gold – https://open.spotify.com/artist/37mha74760GPkr3D6m5NqB?si=8HZ5MyqaQS24u5J7RdNbDw

Delicia (Danny’s band) recently released a tune called “Doubt” and have an EP in the works for 2026 – https://open.spotify.com/artist/5wX0USLsSaSm1b6TdOscqu?si=Il_2zl7VT6yh_mj7k2iwgg