AN event at the annual Trumpet fete will honour charity fundraiser Harry Kirby, who died last autumn.

Mr Kirby was fighting a battle with cancer while organising a charity auction for the Air Ambulance at the Trumpet Inn on October 2.

Sadly, Mr Kirby was never to know how that event would raise £4,374 for his favourite charity, because he died shortly before it took place, aged 73.

His friend, Andrew Riga of The Trumpet Inn said: "It was a great testimony to a man who had raised thousands of pounds for various organisations in his lifetime."

This year's traditional English summer fete at the Trumpet Inn is on Sunday, June 27, starting at 2pm.

Mr Riga said: "One of the key events will be the unveiling of the memorial seat and the planting of an oak tree for Mr Kirby, a former member of the Little Marcle Branch of the Royal British Legion.

"At the annual dinner of the Old Comrades Association earlier this year, money was raised for a memorial seat to be made and located at the Trumpet Inn.

"This has been hand-made by Mike Walker and the oak tree has been donated by Adrian Hope Tree Services. It is hoped that the County Air Ambulance will also attend."

Over the years, Mr Kirby organised auctions for the Red Cross, Cobalt Unit in Cheltenham and St Michael's Hospice. But his favourite charity was the Air Ambulance.

Mr Kirby joined the Gloucestershire Regiment in 1946, seeing action in Korea. Afterwards he worked a stockman and also as a barman, in venues including the Trumpet Inn and The Verzons.