A POPULAR music festival is set to return in memory of a musician who died in a car crash.
CozFest was set up to commemorate the life of Corran ‘Coz’ Powell, and is due to return to Sible Hedingham on August 27-28.
Corran, 21, was killed by a drugged and drunk driver on Braintree Road in Gosfield, where he lived, in December 2014.
Corran was airlifted to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, in Cambridge, with multiple injuries but died eight days later without regaining consciousness.
Pal James Simmons, 18, of Hillside Gardens, Braintree, who was a passenger in the car, was killed in the crash.
Ford Fiesta driver David Bradley, 30, of Beckers Green Road, Braintree, also died.
Corran’s mum, Gennie Powell, said: “Coz donated his liver, kidneys and pancreas, enabling two people to make it home in time for Christmas.
“He also donated stem cells and other samples to various research projects to help save lives.
“His heart became part of the Papworth DCD (donation after circulatory death) research, which recently resulted in Europe’s first non-beating heart transplants, thereby helping countless others.
“He loved his music, whether it was listening, playing or encouraging his peers at Sound Academy, a charity-funded music school.
“He wanted to expand on Sound Academy’s work and be able to offer an open air venue for new bands. CozFest is designed to follow that dream.”
So far the line-up includes the Condriacs on both days, MC Xander who will be closing at least one day, and local band It’s Not a Phase Mum.
Gennie added: “He was saving to buy land on which he could run his own survival and woodcraft courses and teach other young people to understand, be safe in and respect our countryside. We bought the land in Halstead Road and have started running his woodland survival courses and planting a memorial woodland.
"The famous heavy metal band Bullet For My Valentine carry his ashes with them and send us a video message each year to play at the festival.
“This year there will be wild camping in a field adjacent to the festival, food stalls and a reasonably priced beer tent with other drinks available so people can stay all weekend.”
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