Homegrown Tadley talent pulls in funds for justice fight

The home-grown, five-piece band took time out of their European tour to play at a Party on the Pitch, at Barlows Park, Silchester Road, home of Tadley Calleva FC.
The event was in support of a Tadley family’s continued court battle for justice, after the killing of their son, Robert Sebbage, aged 18, while on holiday in Greece in 2011.
His family, including his father and mother, Andy and Rhian Sebbage, of Weyhill Close, are campaigning to raise funds towards the costs of a retrial in a Greek court on June 11.
They have appealled against the six year jail sentence of a Greek taxi driver found guilty of stabbing their son to death almost three years ago.
The band members, four of whom are from Tadley and the other one from Basingstoke, knew Robert from his schooldays, at the Hurst Community College, Baughurst and also Queen Mary’s College, Basingstoke.
Over 1,500 people turned up to the event with free entry and money raised in donations and from proceeds of refreshments and a raffle.
“It went down very well, it was a great success, heaving - absolutely superb,” said Mr Sebbage, who continued that one of the group members - Ben Selley, from Tadley - was the cousin of Harry Styles, a member of boyband, One Direction, adding:
“It’s a shame we couldn’t get them down here as well!”
Concept, who performed both cover and their own songs, went out on a high, after singing Wonderwall, by Oasis - Robert’s favourite song.
The concert was preceded by the annual Lads versus Dads football match, in Robert’s memory, with players including his brothers, Martin and Steven, for the lads team - which again proved victorious, with a 5:2 final score.
Mr Sebbage said he would like to thank all the helpers and volunteers and all those who contributed to the raffle and tombola and “Who turned up and made it a success,” he said.
Robert Sebbage was a Reading Football Club fan, who bravely battled a rare bowel condition, earning him chance to walk out as an England mascot at Wembley with David Beckham in June 2008. He was holidaying with fellow former Hurst Community College pupils, Jordan Manson, Samuel Champion, Steven Granston and Callum Lane, when he died.
For more information about the Out of the Blue campaign visit outoftheblue-rjs.co.uk.