Tattoo charity day for beloved dad on Norwich's music scene

Mark ‘Polo’ Page, who died in 2020 aged 57, has been described as a “much-loved son, brother, husband, dad and grampy” by his daughter Shannon Page-Gigli and son-in-law, Steve Gigli.

Mark Page died in 2020 of a brain tumour at the age of 57 (Image: Shannon Page-Gigli)

Popular on the Norwich music scene, Mark was the frontman and rhythm guitarist for a number of city bands over the years.

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Mark Page was known as a family man with an amazing sense of humour (Image: Shannon Page-Gigli)

Shannon said: “The first band I remember him being in was a rockabilly band called the Small Town Giants, before he set up the Leopard Trio and finally The Hal Wrayzer Combo, which played at mine and Steven's wedding.

"He enjoyed song writing and was so laid back, but with an amazing sense of humour, always having a rubbish dad joke ready to make us laugh.”

Mark's family says that since his death, that their grief has been put on hold (Image: Shannon Page-Gigli)

To commemorate Mark's life the family is holding a charity event at Steve's business he co-owns, at Black Dagger Tattoo in Borrowdale Drive on June 11.

On the day the studio will be offering cancer ribbon tattoos from £20, between 10am - 4pm, with six artists working for free.

Mark was in a number of bands and well recognised on the Norwich music scene (Image: Shannon Page-Gigli)

The family are hoping to raise £2,740 to get Mark a plaque on the 'Wall of Hope' at one of the Brain Tumour Science of Excellence Centres, while also raising money for the Brain Tumour Research charity.

Shannon said: "Dad did so much for charity it would be so fitting for him and hopefully something he'd be proud of.

The artists at Black Dagger Tattoo Norwich who will be inking people to raise money for Brain Tumour Research charity (Image: Shannon Page-Gigli)

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"It wasn't until dad was diagnosed with a brain tumour that I realised quite how many people suffer from this particular cancer.

"However, it's so underfunded and under-publicised, but it kills more people under 40 than any other type of cancer."

Mark enjoyed writing music in the rockabilly style of Elvis and Johnny Cash (Image: Shannon Page-Gigli)

Shannon added that because of the timing of Mark's death that the day will also be used for the family to grieve together, saying: "At Mark's funeral we could only have 10 mourners and had to sit apart because of Covid.

"So it feels like our grief was put on hold because we couldn't even be together, however now that's all finished it seems like a good time to do something for him.”

Steven Gigli, pictured right with Mark Page (Image: Shannon Page-Gigli)

Mark was in a number of bands called The Small Town Giants, Leopard Trio and finally The Hal Wrayzer Combo (Image: Shannon Page-Gigli)

Mark Page with Shannon on her wedding day (Image: Shannon Page-Gigli)

Steven Gigli, owner of Black Dagger Tattoo, located in Borrowdale Drive (Image: Shannon Page-Gigli)