Joy Division bassist Peter Hook is helping support people with epilepsy by auctioning all of his guitars and memorabilia from his Joy Division and New Order days.

He is auctioning off the items in memory of Joy Division singer Ian Curtis, who had epilepsy. Mr Hook, also popularly known as Hooky, will be donating some of the proceeds to the Epilepsy Society, based in Chalfont St Peter.

Mr Curtis sadly died in 1980, shortly before the band was due to set off on a tour of the United States.

An exhibition and auction of Mr Hook’s Joy Division memorabilia will be held in Newton-le-Willows, in Merseyside, on March 2.

Other charities set to benefit from the event include C.A.L.M. (Campaign Against Living Miserably) which is aimed at bringing the suicide rate down among men and The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, which is one of the largest cancer treatment centres of its type in Europe.

Mr Hook said: “It is a pleasure to continue to raise money for epilepsy. It is very close to me and it is important to be able to give something back. Ian was a wonderful man and was very good at looking after you.

“On many occasions I’ve had to look after him when he was having a seizure. It was puzzling and frightening to watch someone you love go through that.

“His biggest mistake was that he didn’t want you to worry about him.”

Clare Pelham, chief executive at the Epilepsy Society, said: “Peter Hook’s generosity is a tribute to his friendship with Ian Curtis.

“We all need friends. But people with epilepsy need good friends more than most; for support, for understanding and sometimes, for care.

“Ian’s struggle with his epilepsy and his accompanying anxiety and depression are well-documented and the importance of good friends at a time like that cannot be underestimated.

“We see this so often at the Epilepsy Society when people speak to us or call our helpline. Sometimes the approach is for the wealth of information and expertise that we are able to provide about the condition that affects more than half a million people in this country.

“But most often, the underlying reason is for the emotional support that people with epilepsy so badly need to help them through a life where their seizures may be uncontrolled and-often worst of all-result in them being ostracised or isolated in social situations.

“Peter’s continued commitment to his friend after nearly 40 years by this generous gift, will mean that we will be able to offer emotional support, as well as practical information, to more people with epilepsy when they need it.

“Their friendship will have a living legacy in the happier and more fulfilled lives of people with epilepsy benefitting from this support.”

Items being auctioned include Mr Hook’s first bass and the guitar he used on Joy Division’s second album Closer, as well as Mr Curtis’ typed and signed lyrics for the song Failures.

To see the full catalogue, visit bit.ly/PHookSignatureCollectionOnline.