A number of entertainers paid tribute to beloved Drag Race UK star Cherry Valentine at a memorial concert in London on 28 November.
It was held at the Clapham Grand, with all donations going to mental health charities that the star supported.
Performers included a number of Drag Race UK alumni from and the group Traveller Pride.
Joe Black performed an emotional rendition of Nick Cave’s Into My Arms.
The concert was also livestreamed, attracting an international audience.
Fans were given the opportunity to pay their respects by scattering rose petals around Cherry’s Drag Race UK entrance look.
Thankyou 🥹 From the bottom of our hearts! Remember Everyday is Valentines Day 🍒 Love from Sam & Adam Throne Events ❤️ #cherryvalentine pic.twitter.com/0HNrij9uV0
— Throne Events – By Cherry Valentine 🍒 (@Throneeventsuk) November 29, 2022
“Had the honour of paying tribute to our sister Cherry Valentine last night,” said season three star Elektra Fence.
“The love in that room was real.
“I performed in the look I wore the day Cherry & I met & performed to the Charli XCX song we shot a music video for
“Tell your friends, family & loved ones you love them.”
Had the honour of paying tribute to our sister Cherry Valentine last night.
The love in that room was real.
I performed in the look I wore the day Cherry & I met & performed to the Charli XCX song we shot a music video for
Tell your friends, family & loved ones you love them x
— Elektra Fence ⚡️ (@ElektraFence) November 29, 2022
All of those who performed at the event did so for free to ensure as much money was raised for charity as possible.
Cherry, whose offstage name was George Ward, sadly passed away in September of this year at the age of 28.
“It is with the most heart-wrenching and deepest sadness to inform you that our George – Cherry Valentine – has tragically passed away,” said a statement from Ward’s family.
“This will come as a profound shock to most people and we understand there is no easy way for this to be announced.”
The performer took part in Drag Race UK season two, becoming a fan favourite for his warmth.
We are heartbroken that Cherry has passed away. She was a kind soul who brought joy and a distinctive laugh to everyone she met. She brought flair, verve and charm to #DragRaceUK, we will miss her so deeply. pic.twitter.com/4LG7oHaVZj
— RuPaul's Drag Race UK (@dragraceukbbc) September 23, 2022
He was also a qualified mental health nurse, and worked in the job during the COVID-19 pandemic.
When speaking about nursing, he said it “put me in that right position to be able to understand people a bit more”.
“If you are a drag queen you are working with people. And to understand people I think you go the extra mile.”
After Drag Race UK, the Darlington-born star worked with the BBC to produce a documentary called ‘Gypsy Queen and Proud’, which explored traveller heritage and experiences as an LGBTQ+ person growing up in the community.
“When I discovered the LGBTQ+ community, I felt like the only person who was a Traveller in that community,” she explained. “Going through this whole documentary process just opened my eyes. It gives me so much hope. It really does.”
You can read messages and memories of Cherry in an online book of condolences, available here.
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