A King-sized night of music in support of Sheffield Blitz Memorial Trail campaign

Mike Lawton has organised an Elvis night to celebrate the ''King's'' birthday on January 8, at the Railway Hotel, Wadsley Bridge

On Friday, January 8 – which would have been Elvis Presley’s 81st birthday – a fundraising event will be held in aid of The Star-backed Blitz Memorial Trail campaign.

The special event will celebrate the work of The King of Rock and Roll with song requests, an Elvis quiz and tracks from his most recent number one album – If I Can Dream, recorded with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, along with three tracks which were not released on the album.

The night of music, hosted by DJ Mike Lawton, will be held from 8pm at The Railway Hotel on Penistone Road, Wadsley Bridge.

Mike said: “Admission is free, but participation in the fundraising raffle would be appreciated.

“There will also be live music from 50/60s band, Young Once, with Elvis requests and a quiz.”

All proceeds from the event will go to the Blitz Memorial Trail campaign, which is backed by The Star and won Heritage Lottery funding in October.

Blitz fund organiser, Neil Anderson, said: “Gaining some lottery funding has been a great boost, and events like this will help the fund reach its target.”

The £81,000 Heritage Lottery funding was donated to commemorate the 75th anniversary of a defining moment in the city’s history.

The Sheffield Blitz killed and wounded more than 2,000 people in December 1940 and made nearly a tenth of the city’s population homeless.

The devastating Luftwaffe attacks changed the face of Sheffield forever and flattened much of the city centre.

The industrial East End of the city was targeted just three days later, when Hitler’s planes targeted factories that were a vital part of the war effort.

In 2010, Neil started the drive for more to commemorate the attacks.

The Trail will form the centrepiece of the two-and-a-half year project with up to 16 sites around the city centre earmarked for the installation of permanent memorial plaques made in steel.

Sites will include the Marples Hotel in Fitzalan Square, which was destroyed on December 12, 1940, Sheffield City Hall and The Moor.