Stars of Amess memorial concert: "we're going to do a lot in the city in Sir David's name"
The week of celebrations starts tomorrow with a concert remembering Sir David Amess
Tomorrow, Southend kicks off its week of city celebrations with a concert in memory of murdered MP Sir David Amess.
Ahead of the show, we've spoken to some of the star performers.
It will be a showcase of music and arts featuring performances from Lee Mead, who's starred in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat and Holby City, Leanne Jarvis, who was a finalist on The Voice UK, jazz musician, Digby Fairweather, and many more.
The concert also marks Southend's new city status, which Sir David campaigned for throughout his time as Southend West's MP.
Lee Mead remembers one of the MP's ideas to campaign: "One year, at least ten years ago, David invited me to the House of Commons and said: "Bring your multicoloured coat and let's push Southend as a city!"
Leanne Jarvis, who is from the area, explains why it deserves the honour: "So many people come to Southend, I think the people who live here take it for granted.
"Don't get me wrong, I've travelled the world and it's no Caribbean but when I come back here... it really is home...
"It's a good thing that it's become a city now. I'm so happy for David that it's happened.
"I wish he could see it but it's a really nice sign of respect... and I think we deserve it."
Digby Fairweather had been involved in Sir David's campaign for a long time. He's thrilled to finally have secured the status: "It's tremendous, but it's a working progress. Being a city is a lovely title, but it doesn't entitle you to 'manna from Heaven' in financial terms.
"I think we've all got it in mind to really get to business to make this conversion happen."
He says the new MP for Southend West, Anna Firth, will play a key role in making the most of the newly awarded status: "One of her principal ideas is for Southend, one day, to achieve the City of Culture title.
"It can't happen in 2025, but it happens every four years, and it could happen in 2029. I think that's one of the things Anna has her heart set on."
The Music Man Project, which provides music education for people with learning disabilities, will also be performing, as Sir David Amess was their Patron.
They previously performed at his funeral mass in Westminster Cathedral.
David Stanley founded the charity: "When the Prime Minister made the announcement that Southend was to become a city, I was in tears because it was so important to Sir David, and it became so important to all of us, especially in light of his death.
"It's going to drive us forward because we're now going to do a lot in the city in Sir David's name."
All proceeds raised from selling tickets will go towards charities Sir David supported, including the Music Man Project. The founder told us what the money will go towards: "Sir David Amess is now famous for saying that he wanted us to go to Broadway. Performing in New York was one of our next big ambitions and he was helping us to do that.
"Any money raised will go towards helping us fulfil that ambition, so that when we're in New York performing, he can be there with us, looking down and saying "you did it"."
'He Built This City' is on Sunday 13th February at the Cliffs Pavilion.
More information can be found here.