Sad news this week of the death of veteran rocker Lemmy Kilmister.

The Motorhead frontman was a larger than life figure who lived life to the full – fulfilling the image of the hardened rocker.

Local shows include storming sets at the New Theatre – the grizzled guitarist telling the crowd: “We are Motorhead and we play heavy metal music,” and always ending with anthem Ace of Spades.

The ex-Hawkwind axeman died just a few days after his 70th birthday, following a short battle with an extremely aggressive cancer.

Lemmy – real name Ian Kilmister – explained the appeal of his fierce brand of rock, describing it as “very basic music – loud, fast, city, raucous, arrogant, paranoid, speed-freak rock n roll,” adding: “It will be so loud that if we move in next door to you, your lawn will die.” A great musician, he was also a stickler for the truth.

“Apparently people don’t like the truth, but I do like it,” he wrote in his autobiography. “I like it because it upsets a lot of people.”

The music world is a poorer place for his passing.

* On a happier note, those lovely people at St Giles Church have totted up the cash raised through their season of Saturday jazz concerts, and have handed over more than £5,000 to charities working with children in war zones and the developing world.

The gigs, which featured such stars at Jaqui Dankworth and Gypsy Fire, raised £1,472 for WarChild and £1,038 for Save the Children, with funding matched by the government and equity brokers Aviate Global.

The church’s Jean Darke helped organise the shows. She said: “We are so pleased that we have managed to raise two substantial sums for War Child and Save the Children, particularly at Christmas time.

“Our concerts continue to be successful and I know all the musicians involved will be gratified at this year’s outcome. We also had a terrific boost by The Oxford Times, early in the series, flagging up our charity raising efforts.

“All at St Giles wish you a peaceful new year.”