ABERGAVENNY plumbing businessman’s widow Sharon Dilley has spoken of the ‘angels’ working at the hospice that cared for her husband Peter over the final weeks of his life.

Cancer sufferer Peter Dilley died, aged 64, at St David’s Hospice Care’s recently opened in patient hospice in Newport after a brave five year battle against the disease.

Peter, a director of well-known Abergavenny business Mirage Plumbing Supplies Limited, of Mill Street, died from prostate cancer at St David's Hospice in November last year.

Widow Sharon said: “The care Peter received from the wonderful nurses at St David’s Hospice Care was absolutely fantastic. Peter was initially cared for at our home by St David’s nurse Jane and then in his final stages he was cared for at the wonderful hospice in Malpas.

“The level of care that my husband received when in that truly beautiful hospice was unbelievable. The St David’s nurses are angels there is no other words I can use to describe how they cared not just for Peter but us all as a family. When any of our family and friends visited him in St David’s hospice they were very moved and impressed by the aura of peace, tranquillity, empathy and support at the hospice.

“We just didn’t know what to expect when you go to a hospice. It’s a bit worrying. I’d never had any experience of it but from the moment we stepped through the door at St David’s Hospice in Newport, I and most importantly Peter, knew that this was the most perfect place for him. It is just so beautiful. I just can’t thank the hospice and their marvellous nurses enough for all that they did and I know Peter felt the same.”

Sharon has now vowed to help support St David’s Hospice Care in any way that she can in the work that they do throughout the community, in memory of her husband.

Peter, an active and highly regarded freemason, was a member of the St John’s Lodge, Abergavenny, where he was master in 1999 and 2014.

Sharon said: “St John’s were tremendous during Peter’s illness and afterwards. I wanted to present a cheque for money raised so far in Peter’s memory actually at the lodge to show my appreciation and recognise their marvellous support.”

Sharon presented St David’s Hospice Care with £2,274, which included donations from his funeral and also £637 she raised from a St David’s Big Welsh Brew on March 6, an amount which was match funded by her employer, HSBC.

The Dilley family have asked that the money raised goes towards the purchase of a special mattress for a bed in the hospice IPU in Malpas, Newport.

Tania Ansell, of St David’s Hospice Care, said: “We’re so very grateful for this donation from Sharon in Peter’s memory and also to hear her kind words. We know that our nurses are extra special and it’s always lovely to hear from relatives such as Sharon that their dedication and care is so very much appreciated.”