BOOGIE woogie king Ben Waters presented a bumper amount to charity before wowing crowds at a music festival.

The critically-acclaimed pianist, who tours all over the world and regularly shares a stage with Jools Holland, was the headline act at the Broadmayne Live event, organised to raise money for the village school on Saturday.

Ben, who grew up in Weymouth and still lives locally, used the gig for the Dorset launch of a new album he made as a tribute to his childhood hero Ian Stewart, a founder member of the Rolling Stones.

A number of stars contributed to the album Boogie4Stu including Ben’s cousin PJ Harvey and the surviving members of the Stones.’ Proceeds from the sale of the album are going to the British Heart Foundation – Ian Stewart died of a heart attack in 1985.

Ben was given all his album costs back by Eagle Rock record company and as a goodwill gesture record bosses gave him £10,000 in advance to give to the British Heart Foundation.

Ben presented this to BHF charity representatives before the gig, and said he hopes to present more in future.

The presentation was done in front of the Christies Contemporary Art (CCA) bus which visited the school for the Dorset launch of the album.

The bus is a mobile art gallery which visits schools and festivals. It was designed by Sir Peter Blake who also did the artwork for the Boogie4Stu album. The Broadmayne Parents Teachers and Friends Association (PTFA) said it was a great opportunity for the children to see a ‘national, educational and inspirational attraction’.

Amy Wickham from the PTFA, who led the organising team for Broadmayne Live, said it went ‘brilliantly.’ Mrs Wickham added: “I would say there were about 400 people there.”

She said families laid picnic blankets on the school field and enjoyed the early evening sunshine before dancing away to the bands.

As well as the Ben Waters Band the crowd enjoyed music from top local bands Shooter and The Devil’s Rejects.

Ben’s 10-year-old son Tom, who plays the saxophone, also performed with his band Milly and the Peeps.

Ben said he was delighted to play at the concert and support the school.

His daughter Molly, nine, is in her final year there and son Tom is a past pupil and now at St Mary’s in Puddletown.

Ben said: “It was a great gig. As well as playing tracks from the new album we did some songs we have been writing for Ray Davies’ Meltdown festival in London next month.”