FRIENDS today paid tribute to one of Staffordshire's most influential musicians who has died at the age of 99.

May Walley created and ran the Penkhull Festival for 39 years, attracting top-class soloists and choirs and also using it as a platform for championing contemporary classical music.

She founded one of the festival's regular choirs, The Stoke-on-Trent Bedford Singers, and remained its conductor until she was well into her 90s.

She also tutored generations of young people to sing and play the piano, taught at Newcastle High and was awarded both an MBE and an honorary degree for services to music.

Miss Walley, who was born in Forsbrook and lived for many years in Victoria Road, Newcastle, spent her final years at St Mary's Nursing Home, in Stone.

Today Rhoda Bailey, chairman of the recently revived Penkhull Festival, described her as "an enormous musical talent".

She said: "May will be missed, she's a great loss to the area.

"I'm just pleased she's left so much behind that can be continued. Her legacy is the number of people she inspired to love music."

Although known in music circles by her maiden name, Miss Walley was married to Harry Dulson for almost five decades until his death in 1985.

Her son Bob Dulson, who lives in Maidenhead, said she could have been a concert pianist, but passed up the opportunity to look after her family.

"I am incredibly proud of her and, in particular, what she achieved in other people," he added.

Jim Heron, who lives in Newcastle, is a former president of both the Bedford Singers and the Penkhull Festival.

He said: "She was a remarkable woman. Her standards were strict, but she had a great love for music and for people."

Roger Jones, who now lives in the Wirral and is in his 60s, used to be one of Miss Walley's pupils and became a chorister.

He said: "May was inspirational. One of her greatest interests was to encourage music among young people."

Miss Walley's funeral is at St Paul's Church, in Victoria Road, Newcastle, on Wednesday. Many friends, relatives, and fellow musicians are expected to attend the service, which starts at 3pm. The Stoke-on-Trent Bedford Singers will also be performing there.