OPERA fans are mourning the death of a man who was one of the Swindon area's most talented tenors.

Pharmacist Macdonald Coventry, of Wootton Bassett, died at the age of 68, three weeks before his ruby wedding anniversary. He had fought cancer for 18 months.

Mr Coventry belonged to Swindon Opera for 38 years as a former president and chairman.

Dawn Ball, of Swindon Opera, said: "I accompanied Mac several times and he was a great singer, a really talented man."

Mr Coventry had sung with other choirs, including Swindon Choral Society and the Nubiss Singers, and performed as a soloist in oratorios and cantatas.

Sir Peter Beale will conduct the Choral Society at Mr Coventry's funeral at Wootton Bassett parish church next Wednesday.

Countless local churchgoers also knew him as their regular organist and choirmaster.

He played at St Mary's in The Mall and later at Highworth, Wroughton and St Sampson's, Crick-lade, from which he retired only recently.

Mr Coventry was born in London and met his wife Ann at a mission chapel where he was a Sunday School teacher.

He had his training as a pharmacist interrupted by National Service in the Royal Army Medical Corps.

After he qualified the couple moved to Swindon and he worked as a dispensing chemist in Old Town and Havelock Street before managing a chemist's shop at Purton.

For 17 years he ran his own independent pharmacy in Victoria Road, and after retiring was frequently called on to do spells as a locum. As a member of the Pharmacy Association he also represented the Swindon area at national conferences.

Besides his wife, he leaves two sons, two daughters and six grandchildren.

His family has asked for donations in his memory to be given to Prospect Macmillan nurses. They should be sent to Maslin Funeral Service, 118a High Street, Wootton Bassett.