City Wakes: 16 May 2008

A glum Simon Gunton photographed (left) while being photographed looking glum by a "Cambridge Evening News" photographer.

Simon and the gang have every reason to feel disappointed and frustrated ; on the night of Tuesday 7 May, the Escape Artists van containing equipment used at rehearsals was relieved of its entire contents. The thieves made off with instruments, mikes, cables and sound systems together with laptops containing irreplaceable recordings by the band worth a total of £14,000.

The mood was understandably sombre at first, but the show must go on. So with Rosemary Breen, Syd Barrett's sister and co-sponsor of the project in attendance, the group posed for a "Cambridge Evening News" photographer  as part of an appeal for funds to be launched in the local rag.

raymond.brown@cambridge-news.co.uk

Simon Gunton is appealing for help to replace the stolen music kit.

A mental health charity set up as tribute to rock legend Syd Barrett has been dealt a blow by heartless criminals.
They stole £17,000 of music equipment from Cambridge art and mental health charity, Escape Artists. Based at The Centre at St Paul's Church in Hills Road, the charity is backed by the troubled genius's sister Rosemary Breen. She has spoken to the News in a heartfelt plea for help after the kit was stolen from the charity's van. The theft has been a major setback for the charity, which is due to hold a concert at the centre.

Rosemary set up a trust from her brother's items which were sold at auction to launch The City Wakes - a celebration of Syd's music - which will be performed in Cambridge from October 22 to November 2. Rosemary said: "It's dreadful. It was such a shock. Everything was going so well for the charity. This is a huge setback. "If anyone out there can help we would be very pleased. If anyone has got guitars, PA equipment or instruments they can donate it would be fantastic. The City Wakes concert is going to be so exciting, but we need help." And she spoke tenderly of her reclusive brother who founded Pink Floyd and died in his hometown of Cambridge in 2006.

She said: "It's just amazing how much Syd is loved by the people here and elsewhere after 30 years when he was with Pink Floyd. "He chose to be reclusive and people respected that. He just wanted to live a quiet life, and he was allowed to do that in Cambridge, which shows what an enormous amount of respect people had for him.

Syd died aged 60 two years ago after living a "life alone". Rosemary said: "He was always very eccentric and therefore had an eccentric brain and exposed it to what was going on in the 60s and ended up with a bit of a befuddled brain. "He had a very odd brain and let's just say had access to alternative ways of stimulating it, but he wasn't mentally ill. He was unique."

Simon Gunton, 42, had parked the van outside his home in Blackheath when the thieves struck.He said: "The sun was shining and I was feeling good. Then I opened the van when I got to Cambridge for a workshop and was shocked. I couldn't believe it. The van was completely and utterly empty. "I'm very rarely shocked, but I was completely gobsmacked. It takes a lot to upset me, but I haven't been myself since. It's like they've taken away my livelihood."

To help the charity replace the stolen equipment call Matthew Taylor on (020) 7655 0909 or email matthew@escapeartists.co.uk . For more information visit their website at www.escapeartists.co.uk