AN Abergavenny couple who have spent nearly 30 years raising around £500,000 for charity have been forced to retire.

Trevor Turner was diagnosed in February with an aortic aneurysm, which is inoperable, and was advised to stop driving or doing anything stressful.

This meant he and his wife, Peggy, had to give up what they love best – organising coach trips to the theatre for charity.

The couple, who are both 81, and live in Holywell Road, Abergavenny, are well known in the area for their charity work.

They started fundraising in 1984 after parishioners at St David’s Church, Llandewi Rhydderch, asked them to organise a trip to the Bristol Hippodrome to see Danny La Rue in the pantomime Cinderella.

They started taking coaches to both Bristol and St David’s Hall, in Cardiff, and later added venues such as the NewTheatre, CIA and Theatr Brycheiniog.

In 2002 Trevor received the MBE from the Prince of Wales during a ceremony at Cardiff Castle.

After supporting various national and local charities the couple chose Breast Test Wales after Peggy underwent successful treatment for the disease.

She was treated by consultant surgeon Mr Ian Monypenny and he regularly attended the annual coffee evening that the couple organised at the Angel Hotel, Abergavenny, every June until last year, raising in excess of £150,000.

Their fundraising took on a more personal meaning with the diagnosis and subsequent death of their beloved daughter-in-law, Susan, from cancer. More than £25,000 was raised for Velindre Hospital, Cardiff, in her memory and a plaque in her name was installed.

Six years ago Trevor was diagnosed and successfully treated for prostate cancer. He was also diagnosed with diabetes and suffers from sleep apnoea, a condition which means he stops breathing momentarily, and until recently he was chairman of the Welsh Sleep Apnoea Association.

The charities to benefit from their fundraising included Ty Hafan Children’s Hospice, St Anne’s Hospice, the Royal British Legion, St George’s Soldiers and Sailors Association, Leukaemia Research, Abergavenny Alzheimer’s Carers’ Group, In The Pink and Prostate Progress Research.

The couple said they will miss the theatre trips but are ready for a well-earned rest.