Book of condolence for Mansfield rock legend Alvin

A book of condolence has been set up at Mansfield Museum for people to pay tribute to music legend Alvin Stardust.

The glam rock icon, who died last week, had close links with the museum - loaning the Leeming Street venue costumes for a special exhibition in 2009 and even playing an acoustic set for visitors.

He died on Thursday - the same day that a new exhibition featuring some of his earlier Shane Fenton performances opened at the museum.

Curator Jodie Henshaw told Chad: “Alvin was a really good friend to Mansfield Museum and it was strange and sad that we found out about his death on the same day that our new exhibition which features some of his earlier recordings opened.

“All the staff here were very emotional - he loaned us a lot of his most iconic costumes and shoes, then played a set for us as part of our Pop Goes Mansfield exhibition a few years ago.

“He was just a lovely, lovely man - he was just like any other person coming in to the museum. This is a very sad time.”

The book of condolence has been set up at the museum’s reception desk and will be available for the next three weeks.

It will then be handed to his widow Julie Paton as a lasting tribute from the people of Mansfield.

The 72-year-old, who had been battling prostate cancer for the past 18 months, had been working on his first studio album in 30 years, which is also released this week.

Close friend and former band mate Barry Steel helped to arrange the tribute.

He said: “I have known Alvin for almost 55 years and we have always been very close. He used to stay at our home when he was going shows locally.

“He really cared about Mansfield and its people - he was just a thoroughly modest and genuine Mr Nice Guy. There were just no heirs and graces about him.”

The singer, whose real name Bernard Jewry, started out in the music business in the 1960s but became a huge star on the back of the 1970s glam rock craze scoring hits with tracks including My Coo Ca Choo and Jealous Mind.

Born in Muswell Hill in London in 1942, he moved to Mansfield as a young boy and attended what is now the Southwell Minster School.

The Made in Mansfield Exhibition opened on Thursday and is the first new exhibition in the venue’s arcade gallery in 27 years.

The book of condolence can be signed at the museum from 10am to 5pm Monday to Saturday.

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