THE wife of the late popular musician Spencer Bates has paid tribute to her ‘amazing’ husband and praised the community for rallying around for her family.

Nicky Bates has spoken out for the first time since her husband passed away to give a public thank you to the many people who supported them.

Spencer, who was a talented drummer on Weymouth’s music scene, died of degenerative Motor Neurone Disease on August 31 this year aged 49.

Around 700 people packed into church for his funeral earlier this month, after which Spencer was buried holding his drumsticks and wearing his beloved West Ham United Football shirt.

Mum-of-two Nicky, of Wyke Regis, said: “I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone surrounding Spencer’s life and what he achieved.

“Firstly, thank you so very much to all his friends who have supported Spence and been there for him and our family.

“To his mum and dad for producing such a wonderful person, to his brother, Stuart, for always being there for him and to his sister, Sharon.

“Also to my amazing mum and dad and all of my family and wonderful sister-in-law, Rachel.

“Thank you to the Weymouth Pavilion for allowing us to hold all the Spenstocks and for letting us have the ballroom free of charge for Spencer’s celebration after the funeral. Also a very big thank you to all the bands who gave their time over the past three Spenstocks and to Fuzzy for giving his time at the recording studio.”

Mrs Bates praised Weymouth Football Club ‘for everything they did for Spence and the family’, including first class treatment, printed shirts for the children and signed shirts to be auctioned at the forthcoming Spenstock 2012.

She added: “We have some amazing memories to cherish.

“Many thanks to the Joseph Weld Hospice and all their amazing staff, to Cotton & Sons for making the funeral plans an easier task to handle, to Martin at The Lobster Pot, Portland Bill for the fabulous food and anyone else who has been there for us, thank you so very much.”

Speaking on behalf of all the ‘Bates family’ and her sons Samuel, aged eight, and Isaac, aged four, Nicky said: “Finally, from myself and the boys, Spence was most certainly the best person I could have ever wished to have met and married.

“He was an amazing daddy and husband.”