Limited-edition Led Zeppelin posters are being sold to raise funds for EACH

Posters featuring rare photos of legendary rockers Led Zeppelin performing in Ipswich are being sold to raise funds for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH).

The pictures were taken at the band’s concert at St. Matthew’s Baths, in November 1971.

It is often described as ‘Suffolk’s Greatest Gig’ and the pictures were taken by Nigel Rea, who, at the time, was working as a director/cameraman for a film producer based at Hadleigh.

The negatives remained in his attic for nearly three decades, until a bootleg of the concert was discovered which put the gig in the spotlight.

At the time, it was thought no pictures existed.

However, Nigel had taken his camera along and some of his pictures featured on the poster have never been published before.

Now, to mark the 50^th anniversary of the concert, he has produced a special limited-edition poster – with all profits going to EACH.

Nigel said: “The poster also has the set list from the night, which changed from gig to gig.

“The Ipswich list features new songs promoting the band’s fourth album, including the first outings of Stairway to Heaven, and two very rare encore performances of Weekend and Gallows Pole.

“The band had just returned from touring Japan and America and came to Ipswich to fulfil a long-standing booking in support of their fourth album.

“Described as a very intimate gig, the swimming pool had been boarded over and the pictures show just how small the stage was for one of the world’s biggest bands.

“The band are depicted at various stages during the concert, with Jimmy Page playing a double-necked Gibson guitar and later playing his guitar with a violin bow.

“There was also an acoustic set, with band members pictured sitting at the front of the stage with the audience standing within touching distance.”

The Ipswich concert was also notable as it was the first Led Zeppelin gig for roadie Phil Carlo, later to become the band’s tour manager.

Phil had a long career with many of the big touring bands and was with Led Zeppelin and Jimmy Page for years. He was firmly on home territory as he hailed from Sudbury.

A keen sportsman, he used to compete in the swimming baths and the previous time he was there he had been racing for Suffolk Schools.

Nigel’s poster is supplied in a strong eco-friendly triangular-shaped postal tube. It costs £20 and is available (cash only) from Friday, 5th November.

It is available from Keith Avis Printers, 68 High Street, Hadleigh, IP7 5EF (telephone 01473 823366), Out Of Time Records, 46 Fore Street, Ipswich, IP4 1JY (01473 225547), Woodbridge Emporium, 66 Thoroughfare, Woodbridge, IP12 1AL (01394 382382) and Stillwater Books, 36 Hamilton Road, Felixstowe, IP11 7AN (01394 548010).

Further details can be found here or by emailing [email protected]

EACH provides care and support for children and young people with life-threatening conditions, and their families, across Suffolk, Essex, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire.

It has three hospices, including one at The Treehouse, in Ipswich.

To donate, volunteer or find out more visit the EACH website