A selfless musician and former Wycombe Wanderers player who raised more than £40,000 for charity by performing as Elvis has tragically passed away aged 76.

Billy Gallacher was well-known across Wycombe for his brilliant yearly live performances of the King of Rock n Roll’s biggest hits in a bid to raise cash for healthcare charity Scannappeal, which buys life-saving medical equipment for Amersham, Stoke Mandeville and Wycombe hospitals.

The lifelong Elvis fan from Downley, who had an entire room in his house filled with memorabilia dedicated to the singer, entertained crowds with his charity shows for 30 years with his band the Bonquas.

He was also a member of the Wycombe Wanderers Youth team in 1961, but was a ballboy at Loakes Park in the 1950s before playing. He remained a huge Chairboys fan right up until his death.

Tributes to Billy have poured in since he passed away last week after earlier this year battling Covid-19.

Announcing his death in a touching tribute on Facebook, Paul, one of Billy’s sons, wrote: “Having battled Corona over the winter he had recovered amazingly to see Wycombe climb the League table, Ronaldo rejoin United, Scotland make the Euros and he had even started to do gigs again.

“But that was our dad, living his best life. We always said that the only way he'd stop singing was if he was dragged him off the stage in a coffin, and that's pretty much what it came to.”

Despite the loss they are suffering, Paul wrote that his family are left with “a lot of wonderful memories and an overwhelming sense of love and pride that our dad made the world a happier place”.

He added: “Rest in Peace dad. Although you may have left the building, you will never leave our hearts.”

Toni Brodelle, who was the 2019 Liberal Democrats Parliamentary candidate for the Wycombe constituency, wrote: “Rest in peace Billy Gallacher. Thank you for all you have given to our community and for your talent on the pitch. My thoughts are with your family and friends at this difficult time.”

Billy was a huge Elvis Presley fan since he was a young boy and although he dressed up in a signature Elvis costume and performed all his songs, he did not consider himself an Elvis impersonator – he simply enjoyed getting up on stage and delighting the audience with the King of Rock n Roll’s most-loved hits.

He performed across Wycombe and beyond, with his shows usually coinciding with the anniversary of Elvis’s death.

His devotion took him to the star’s former home, Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee, and he also got to meet his former wife Priscilla Presley, as well as Sam Phillips, the man who discovered the star.

Send your memories and tributes to Billy to stephanie.wareham@newsquest.co.uk or type them below.