Jammer rocked right to the end (From Evesham Journal)

Jammer rocked right to the end

8:00am Friday 27th July 2012 in News

EMOTIONAL tributes were paid to Evesham drummer Jamie Airns at his funeral on Monday.

Hundreds of people turned out to say goodbye to the 46-year-old known as Jammer, who died on Sunday, July 1.

In keeping with his rock roots, Mr Airns’ coffin was carried in to All Saints Church in Evesham to The Boys are Back in Town by Thin Lizzy who he once roadied for.

Former Medulla Nocte and Murder One bandmate Paul Catten spoke at the service and said he would always remember his time on the road with the drummer, whether it was rocking on the stage or chatting about their lives driving from show to show.

“The fact that people have come from all over to pay their respects is testament to Jammer,”

he said. “One of my most important memories was a few minutes before we went onto the stage at Donnington. He said, ‘we worked hard for this, brother’.

We laughed like brothers and argued like brothers.

“We shared the best times of our lives.

“He was a legend both on and off the drum kit. RIP you will never be forgotton.”

Debbie O’Connor, the partner of Mr Airns who was in rock bands including Choir Boys, Black Out, Wreckage and Anger Management, did not speak at the funeral but in an earlier tribute said she was heartbroken.

Her son, James Donoghue, spoke on behalf of his siblings saying Mr Airns had always treated him as his own.

Mr Airns who lived at St George’s Close died after becoming unwell in hospital where he had been taken following a road accident on Friday, June 15.

He had been thought to be in a stable condition following the accident which took place at 6.45am when his Citroen C3 and an articulated lorry collided on the A38 at the Copcut Elm traffic island in Droitwich.

Former schoolmate and best friend Nigel Briffett said: “Jammer was like a brother to me. It was an honour and a privilege to have known him.”