BRIDPORT is in mourning this week after the death of Rex Trevett - an exceptionally talented and courageous man who touched the lives of thousands during his lifetime.

Rex Trevett, 71, who was known affectionately as Mr Music, died at his home in St Katherine's Avenue on Tuesday, surrounded by his family.

He had been battling cancer for some time.

His funeral will be held next Friday, May 13, at 11.30am at St Mary's Church.

Mr Trevett was a Bridport man, having gone to school at St Ronan's and Bridport Grammar School.

His death has left the hundreds of people who knew and loved him deeply saddened.

The Rev Trevor Stubbs said: "I was with him on Tuesday when he was clearly dying.

"It's been a great privilege to have been able to be with him during this difficult time at the end of his life, because he never complained at all.

"He was always concerned about the people who had to look after him, he was a great patient.

"He had a heart for the people who were looking after him - not only his family, but also the people like the nurses and doctors.

He was very concerned not to cause trouble, he was always apologising - that's the measure of the man.

"He was not just about music. He had a great heart for people. He gave music to people, he gave them joy.

"He taught hundreds and hundreds of people music. But it was not just music - he helped people with everyday things and he particularly valued young people.

"He taught them self-respect, taught them to value themselves and cared about them as individuals."

"His father and his uncle were partners in a hairdressing business in Bridport and Rex and his cousin Jack both worked in the salon in the early part of their lives.

"He cut everybody's hair in Bridport - men and women.

"But what he really wanted to do was teach and he spent his whole career at Colfox School.

Mr Stubbs added: "He struggled with a whole lot of health problems and sometimes he was in quite a bit of pain.

He would need to take a couple of days to recover from a concert, but he would be there and keep everybody going.

"The last concert he did at St Mary's nobody was really aware of how much effort it took him and how much pain he was in.

"He was a determined man.

"I don't know the tenth of it because there is so much that he's been doing over the years."