WARGAMER Tom Davidson is soldiering on in the face of personal tragedy.

It was 22 years ago that he and fellow wargame and model making enthusiast David Clemmet first launched an exhibition for military model enthusiasts on Teesside.

Held every November, the event has raised a total of £10,000 for the charity, Mobility International.

Buoyed by its growing popularity, the pair introduced a second show in the 1990s, this time in the spring, with money from that going to the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle, in thanks for saving the life of Tom's wife, Janet.

Born with a hole in her heart which led to hypertension in her lungs, she received both a replacement heart and lungs in an operation.

Mrs Davidson died last year, yet one of her last wishes was that the table top manoeuvres should continue.

As hundreds of fellow enthusiasts enjoyed the annual November show, at the weekend, Mr Davidson was already setting his sights on his fundraising show next spring.

"It was her wish that I continue," said Mr Davidson, a member of the management team at the Remploy factory at Stockton, who like Mr Clemmet, a senior local government officer, is disabled.

Mr Davidson said: "The hospital did a lot for her and gave her extra time, doubling our married life to 27 years. She would have wished for me to continue."

The spring offensive raises money towards a scheme which pays for hospital flats for transplant patients to use between leaving the Freeman Hospital and re-entering the community.

The weekend's show, held at Stockton Sports Centre, attracted specialist retailers from south as far as Southampton and Reading.

It is expected to have raised about £500 for Mobility International.