THE widow of much-loved former mayor Rex Barnett is continuing to fundraise for the charities he supported.

Sandra Barnett, the wife of the popular Haydon Wick councillor who lost his battle with lung cancer last year, is taking up his mantle by continuing to raise money for the Willows Counselling Service.

During his time as Mayor in 2011 the 74-year-old raised an impressive £68,000 for his three chosen charities: Prospect Hospice, the Willows Counselling Service and the Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Movement, and another 11 besides.

Now Sandra, 71, intends to carry on his good work, starting with a charity concert at the Blunsdon House Hotel on September 28.

Sandra said: “Barrie Smith and Rex were very good friends and Barrie and his wife Kathleen were very supportive and helped with all the fundraising during his mayoral year.

“Barrie was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer and he died just three months before Rex did.

“Kathleen and I stayed close, which is why we’ve organised this concert together.

“We just wanted to do something in their memory and we thought organising the concert to raise money for Willows would be a good way.

“He just enjoyed helping people – he thrived on it.

“If people phoned him and wanted help he just got his teeth into it and helped.

“We wanted to do a get-together and try and raise some money so we thought this would be a fitting tribute.”

Sandra said that she chose to raise money for the Willows because it was so important to Rex.

She sad: “It was a charity so close to his heart. They were all charities close to his heart but Prospect is already so well known and many people have already heard of CALM but nobody really knows anything about Willows.

“They’re a professional counselling service but they don’t just do bereavment or grief, they are for anyone.”

Rex’s death rocked the whole community, including Mike Fisher, the executive director of Willows Counselling Service.

Mike said: “Rex was an incredible support and encouragement to the work of Willows Counselling Service.

“He supported us in getting a new centre and we were one of his chosen charities in his mayoral year when he raised an extraordinary amount.

“He and Sandra, along with Kathleen and Barrie Smith, became members of the friends of Willows Counselling Service committee where they did fantastic work in fundraising and promoting the importance of counselling as something that can change lives.”

On September 28 from 7.30pm guests to the concert will be able to enjoy an evening of choral delights from the Kentwood Show Choir.

Tickets cost £7 with proceeds going towards the Willows.

For more information or to book tickets, call Sandra on 01793 722320 or Kathleen Smith on 01793 722972.