A LOVE of Country and Western has helped a Ledbury couple to raise a massive £100,000 for charity in a campaign lasting 35 years.

Pensioners Ian and Jean Wheeler of Lower Road are well-known for their fundraising Country and Western evenings for charity.

And now they are to celebrate the fact they have raised the magnificent sum – money which has gone to various favourite good causes over the past three decades and more.

This week Mrs Wheeler, aged 68, looked back on a fund-raising drive that began in November 1978, at Much Marcle Village Hall.

Mrs Wheeler said: “Have we reached a landmark? I don’t know. It’s been our life.

It was hard work to start with, as we were both working full time at Ledbury Preserves but we just kept running them.”

Various venues have been booked by the Wheelers over the years, including the old Wellington Heath Memorial Hall. The Wheelers have often raised money by request and have pulled in the pounds for charities including the Air Ambulance, Acorns Hospice and St Michael’s Hospice.

To mark the big landmark, the Wheelers have arranged a double bill of Country and Western to be held this month. They are hoping good crowds will attend because there has been a fall-off in numbers in recent years.

Mrs Wheeler said: “We used to get hundreds in the past and sometimes, if we get 40 now, we are lucky. It is becoming an older generation thing, but everyone is welcome.” Irish artist Kenny Paul will take a bow in the Cowshed (Rushall Club) in Lower Road on Saturday, November 9, at 8pm.

And on Saturday, November 23, at 8pm, the actual anniversary of the first show put on by the Wheelers, the star act will be Bobby Jones from Welshpool.

There will also be a pig roast and tickets costing £5 each, to include a pork roll, will be available on the door.

Proceeds will be for Marie Curie Cancer Care.