One of the most devoted fans of a Scots rock band has convinced them to play a charity fundraising gig in his north-east home town.
Derek Rorie, 49, of Inverurie, is getting his life back on track following an 18-hour operation to remove parts of a rare brain tumour several years ago.
He was diagnosed with Posterior Fossa Epidermoid Cholesteatoma in 2007 and the surgery left him without hearing in one ear, his balance gone and his vocal chords permanently damaged.
However, it has not stopped him from following his favourite band, Big Country, all across the country.
In the hope of raising awareness of brain conditions he penned a tongue-in-cheek letter to the band asking if they could play in Inverurie.
To his delight, the group said yes and now Big Country will light up the town’s Thainstone Exchange on April 10 in a fundraiser for the Brain Research Trust.
The gig itself is being coordinated by his step-daughter, Brishay Boyd, who will also be running the London Marathon for the cause on April 26.
Mr Rorie – who lives in the town with his wife, Ann – said: “It is just like a dream come true. I have followed them for so long and I remember when they played in Inverurie in 1994.”
The GPH Builders Merchants worker said his condition had built up over 40 years and came to a head when he lost his hearing.
“I was diagnosed back in 2007 and went through the operation in 2008, but they only managed to take half the tumour off because it was too dangerous,” he said.
“When I came out they didn’t know how I was going to react. I was left with a paralysed vocal chord, I couldn’t even whisper.
“A few years ago I was running around doing football coaching, but rubbish happens. I am winning the battle. I have got what I’ve got and Big Country is going to help me.”
The Inverurie gig will be the 59th time he has seen Big Country live.
Ever since his operation he has had the band’s slogan “stay alive” on the back of his I-Pod.
Ms Boyd, 26, said she was thrilled to be helping to organise the show for her step-dad.
“It is a very rare type of tumour, I think there is only one or two in the UK who get it,” she said.
“We have always been wanting to do something to raise money and awareness.
“Big Country agreed and since then we have been getting the venue sorted and taking the opportunity to raise as much as possible.”