An accordion player will take part in a charity walk in honour of his wife, who died seven years after being diagnosed with dementia.

Ray Jones will step out on a Memory Walk later this month - with a little help from his band friends.

The 77-year-old’s wife Angela, who was also a member of Bradford Accordion band, died in June.

On Saturday, September 23, her widower and bandmates will be striding out to raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Society, supporting research and helping people affected by the condition to keep doing the things they enjoy.

The 6km walk will be in the grounds of Temple Newsom House, Leeds.

Mr Jones, who looked after Angela at their home in Thorndale Rise, Swain House, Bradford, with the help of visiting carers, said: “She was happy at home. In fact, just two days before she died she was singing her head off. I wanted to care for her myself and have no regrets, but it’s only now she’s gone that I’m beginning to realise just how much it took out of me. I’m taking part in Memory Walk in her honour, and it’s wonderful that so many of my fellow musicians will be joining me.”

Bradford Accordion Band will be celebrating 20 years of music-making later this month with a concert at Bingley Arts Centre and all the proceeds will be going to the charity.

The event, on Saturday, September 30, will also feature cabaret group Encore and dance troupe Bazzmatazz.

Mrs Jones was a member of the band until she became too ill to play.

Former engineering draughtsman Ray, who has played the accordion since he was four and went on to teach others, said: “Angela was a good accordionist and could also play the violin.

“She was a very jolly, lively person and also quite sporty. She enjoyed tennis and ice skating and we often went swimming together. She was only 59 when she first started showing signs of dementia and it was hard to watch her deteriorate, but I was very willing to take on the role of her carer.”

The band’s Musical Director Anita Basic said: “It has been a very bittersweet year for us. We have reason to celebrate as it’s our 20th anniversary but at the same time we have lost Angela. That’s why quite a few of us will be participating in Memory Walk in Leeds – it’s our way of trying to create a positive from a negative. Some of us might even take our accordions and play music as we walk -so look out for us!”

Sign-ups for this year’s walk in Leeds have already surpassed last year’s total of 2,700, and are on track to top 4,000 participants. Among others at this year’s walk will be former Emmerdale actor John Middleton, whose on-screen character vicar Ashley Thomas battled with dementia in one of the soap’s longest-running storylines.