A musician from Chepstow is organising a fundraising concert in aid of a local residential home that helped her family through its 'darkest days'.

Marjorie Duerden, 63, who lives in Chepstow with her husband of 40 years, Brian, has been the assistant musical director of Chepstow Choral Society for over a decade. She says the care and support provided by staff at Severn View Residential Home during her late mother's final days was so impressive it has compelled her to help raise vital cash for the home's amenity fund.

She said: "My mother died back in 2010 at 95, having suffered from dementia her health deteriorated and she spent the last three months of her life at Severn View. I was beside myself worrying about what to do and where the best place for her would be and I can honestly say the staff were just fantastic and really helped us through our darkest days."

She added: "The care my mother got was so impressive - it really opened my eyes to what a fantastic job the staff do.

"The home exists mainly through external funding but that is for the basic running.

"The Severn View Amenity Fund was set up to help raise money for the little extras such as outings and entertainment - all of which help make their lives that more comfortable and enjoyable during their final years."

Mrs Deurden has now organised a fundraising concert in aid of the amenity fund to be held on February 25 at Chepstow Methodist Church at 7pm. The concert will boast a variety of performances with pieces by Telemannn, Mozart, Saint-Saens and Villa Lobos.

She said: "We have had a wonderful bunch of very talented local musicians offer to perform at the event for free including some very talented youngsters. We're also very grateful that Chepstow Methodist Church has offered to host the concert for free."

Along with Chepstow Choral Society's musical director Graham Bull, Mrs Deurden has also been busy preparing for the society' annual concert to be held on March 24. The society will perform JS Bach's St John Passion at St Mary's Church, Chepstow, featuring an array of both amateur and professional artists from across the country.

Tickets at £5 (including programme and light refreshments) are available from Chepstow Bookshop