A MAN has kept the memory of his beloved wife alive by fundraising for charity in her honour.

Dave Middlemast, who is from Chester-le-Street, County Durham, has raised more than £2,700 for the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) which went to the aid of his wife, Sue, after she suffered a heart attack while mountain biking.

The 61-year-old fell ill while riding with her husband and two friends at Blanchland Moor on May 8 this year.

Despite desperate attempts to revive her, Mrs Middlemast was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

Mr Middlemast said: “She was taken from us without warning and far too soon.

“The air ambulance responded quickly and provided an invaluable service.

“They were wonderful.”

The couple met in 1974 while she was training to be a teacher at St Hild’s in Durham.

They later married in 1989 and were together for 42 years.

Mrs Middlemast spent three decades teaching hundreds of pupils at Bexhill Primary School in Sunderland, before retiring in 2009 to travel.

Mr Middlemast said: “She was my constant loving companion for two thirds of my life.

“She was very active, thoughtful and just wonderful.

“She was so easy to be with, fun-loving and supportive, and everyone would say the same.

“We will never forget her zest for life, her lovely ways and that beautiful beaming smile.”

Altogether, more than £2,700 has been raised through donations from family and friends to an online fundraising page, alongside a squash competition held in Mrs Middlemast’s name at Chester-le-Street Leisure Centre on September 25.

She was a key member of the club since it first formed in 1985.

The fundraising handicap tournament saw 25 people battle it out before Dave Robertson, from Rickleton, Washington, was crowned the overall winner.

This week, Mr Middlemast handed over the £300 raised at the event to the charity.

He said: “It was very well organised and I’d like to thank everyone involved, such as the leisure centre which provided the squash courts for free.

“The response to donating in memory of Sue has been overwhelming and has meant a great deal to me.

“The show of support has been tremendous.”

Mr Middlemast already has ideas to raise more funds in her memory in the New Year with plans to cycle across the country, from coast-to-coast, and hold a charity band night.