Profits from a show will be used to fight motor neurone disease following the deaths of two well-known and popular women.

Motor neurone disease claimed the life of ex-mayor Veronica “Ronnie” Philpott last Friday and amateur dramatics actress Linda Clarke last October.

Promoter Richard Esdale told the Mercury: “It was the passing of Cllr Philpott that finally made me decide. It is such a horrible disease.”

Mr Esdale will donate the profits of the Dean Martin tribute night on June 10 to the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA) and will hold another fundraising show in the near future.

He described the two women as “incredible.” Mr Esdale, from Dover’s JIGintheBOX events company, explained: “Both of these beautiful ladies were huge supporters of me personally and my company over the years and it’s a small gesture to help try to raise awareness of this cruel disease.”

Cllr Philpott died two days after it had been publicly revealed that she was in hospital.

She passed away the day after town’s latest mayor-making, when Neil Rix started a second term in office.

Mrs Clarke, best known in the community as a member of the Temple Ewell Players, died on October 14.

The show is one of the biggest cabaret nights by JIGintheBOX, which also organised a series of concerts last summer for Dover teen cancer victim Kelly Turner.

The evening is called That’s Amore and is to celebrate Rat Pack legend Dean Martin’s 100th birthday.

The show had long been organised, and publicised over the last month, but Cllr Philpott’s death made Mr Esdale decide to use it to help MND sufferers.

Motor neurone disease is a progressive condition that attacks the nerves in the brain and spinal cord.

This means messages gradually stop reaching the muscles.

The Dean Martin birthday tribute night is from 7.30pm on Saturday, June 10, at Dover Town Hall.

Tickets are £15 per person or £135 for a full table of 10.

They can be bought via the ticketline on 07920 255493 or visit bluefishcabaret.com.

For the full story see this week's Dover Mercury.