A CONCERT held in memory of a much-loved Felixstowe writer has raised �3,000 for the hospice whose staff helped care for her during her final illness.

Marian Coles, 78, died after suffering from breast cancer and during her illness was cared for by her family, who said they were indebted to the St Elizabeth’s Hospice at Home team who provided invaluable support and advice in her last days.

In her memory, her husband Tony Coles organised a Requiem for Marian at St John’s Church, Orwell Road, Felixstowe, in aid of the hospice.

The event was well attended and generous donations from friends and residents raised �2,500 with family contributions bringing the total to �3,000.

“I hope we did justice to Marian’s memory and I am heartened by the appreciative comments I have received,” said Mr Coles.

“One delightful example was: ‘No one present could have doubted the inspiration and example that Marian must have been to her family, and what talent passed on in so many ways to the generations that follow.’”

Mr Coles thanked the hospice staff who provided respite care throughout his wife’s cancer.

He and his four daughters felt the Requiem for Marian would be a fitting tribute to her memory. Throughout her life, her passions were literature and music and she belonged to a number of local choirs.

The requiem featured a performance of Faur� Requiem by members of many of those choirs including the Dorian Singers. Soloists included Josh Hall and Patrick McCarthy, and the evening also featured solo soprano pieces sung by Marian’s daughter Susan, a professional opera singer, and music from Hattie Bennett and her Champagne Trio and Terry Byrne and his Euphonic Sounds.

Mrs Coles, who lived in Felixstowe for more than 50 years, wrote short stories for magazines such as Woman’s Own and Woman’s Realm, and also wrote the official history of Felixstowe Lawn Tennis Club for its centenary celebrations.

She chronicled her four-year battle with cancer and completed the final draft of Don’t Call Me Brave shortly before she died.

Extracts were read out at her memorial by Ipswich Star columnist Lynne Mortimer, and the family is currently exploring possible publication so her work reaches a wider audience to help others in their cancer journeys.