A FORMER circus entertainer and charity fundraiser has left £5,000 in his will to a Worcester youth drama group who entertained residents at the home where his wife spent the final years of her life.

Worcester Operatic and Dramatic Society Youth Section (WODYS) regularly took its annual cabaret to the Firs Rest Home, in Malvern Road, St John's, Worcester, where Ray Portman's wife Gladys lived after developing Alzheimer's disease.

Mr Portman, who lived in Graham Road, St John's, loved encouraging children to entertain and two years ago confided to a WODYS' committee member that the group would benefit in his will. WODYS' chairman David Humphries said: "We are delighted by Mr Portman's generosity.

"The money will be used in a way that I am sure he would approve of. It is going into a fund for educational purposes, such as paying professionals to teach at our annual autumn workshops "'It is such a generous gesture by a man who spent so many years of his life entertaining and who raised thousands for charities."

Mr Portman's niece Lesley Park, of Newtown, near Martley, said: "Ray just loved being a showman and was always involved in the business."

Sandra Gee, manager at the Firs, where a memorial service was held for Mr Portman, said: "Ray has been really missed by staff and residents. He loved entertaining and to see youngsters performing."

Mrs Portman died in 2006, and her husband in the following year, aged 82. Mr Portman, who had spent many years in entertainment, at one time touring the county with four trained alsatians he called the Canine Wonders, dedicated 45 years of his life to organising fundraising concerts.

He became the entertainment organiser for the Firs, putting on Friday morning music shows and Christmas and summer concerts. He also raised money for various charities, including Leukaemia CARE and the Noah's Ark Trust.

As a thank you WODYS' cabaret group put on a special show at the Firs. Meanwhile, cabaret members and the rest of the 70 youngsters in the youth section are rehearsing for their summer show Back to the 80s! to be staged at the Swan Theatre, Worcester, from Tuesday, July 29 to Saturday, August 2.