Kathy H

Kathy Hemestretch is a Soul Survivor in the truest sense of the phrase.

She has been an avid 'Soul Freak' from the beginning and in the Brighton of the 1970s she was 'where it was at', be it at The Papillon, The Afro Club or wherever else the sounds of 'black America' were to be heard.

In 1980, she was introduced to Paddy by Dave Walmsley and together the three of them (soon to be joined by Clive) championed the sounds of Northern Soul in the genre's most southerly outpost. Few who were there will ever forget those memorable nights at The Concorde, Deacons and Smugglers. It's kind of strange that the stuff they played then is enjoying such a renaissance again in the 21st century.

By day Kathy was a departmental head in the Brighton branch of Top Shop and was regarded highly enough to be promoted to the company's flagship store in Oxford Street.

We saw less of Kathy over the next few years as husband Ian was snapped up and Kieran and Pearce arrived to complete the family. Poor Kieran was to be afflicted with the rare condition of adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) and Kathy has since made it her priority to take care of him. With her typical zeal and determination, she has also made it her business to provide a support network for other parents of ALD sufferers. She has been nominated several times for the Argus 'Parent of The Year' award, but we reckon she should accept nothing less than being called 'Dame Kathy'!

Yet, the family's cruel Fate was to take a twist for out of their adversity, The Soul Survivors set up emerged having been inspired by Kieran's condition. Kathy had already helped to establish the Hot Buttered Soul sessions at the King Alfred with King Jerry and John Gravitt when Paddy and Clive turned up again after 18 years! After collaborating to put on an event in aid of the ALD charity at The Lectern in Brighton, the gang decided to 'really go for it'. Kathy suggested using The Coral Stadium...and the rest is history.