A QUIDHAMPTON doctor has presented a cheque for £3,000 to the Salisbury Area Young Musicians to ensure the memory of his late wife will carry on through music.

Dr Christopher Glaysher handed the cheque to director Chris Holmes at St Edmund's Girls' School and Sports College, in Laverstock, on Saturday.

His daughters, Sophie (27) and Polly (26), presented cheques for £500 each to the headmistresses of Chilmark Primary School and Pembroke Park Primary School.

Dr Glaysher said his late wife, Andrea, had a great love of music and drama and, after her death, from breast cancer in October 2002, he had been determined to mark her passing in a fitting way and help raise money for Salisbury's young musicians at the same time.

"After her death, family, friends and villagers of Quidhampton, where she had lived for 30 years, wished to mark her passing in a way we felt she would have approved of - through music and drama," he said.

"Using her interest in all matters to do with butterflies, a masked butterfly ball was held in Quidhampton, in July last year."

The evening proved very successful, with the proceeds eventually totalling £4,000.

"Sophie and Polly followed their mother's love of music through the Salisbury Area Young Musicians, so we thought we would put some money back into them," said Dr Glaysher. "That £3,000 will allow them to purchase three quality instruments that will be lent to promising young musicians whose ability warrants the use of a better instrument and who have contributed in other ways to the development, success and running of the group."

Chilmark Primary will also use the money to purchase new instruments for the children, while Pembroke Park is hoping to purchase some collapsible staging for school drama productions.

Andrea Glaysher had been a primary teacher and worked in a number of Salisbury schools, ending her teaching career at Chilmark Primary.

A graduate in music, drama and education from Goldsmith's College, London, she was also responsible for many of the musicals and dramas produced by the Salisbury Arts Centre, Old Time Musical Hall and Quidhampton Players.

"Many people, young and old, were given the opportunity and confidence to perform, thanks to Andy's warmth, encouragement and professionalism," said Dr Glaysher.

"Now her memory will carry on through music."