YORK musical director, arranger and singer Bev Jones has not sung or played a full song since December 2011, on account of illness, but in the past four weeks he has done both.

Now resident in the Thistle Hill Nursing Home, in Knaresborough, Bev has been given a focus by his wife, Lesley, who promised him he could do a show soon.

"It has given him a reason to try, and me the pleasure of seeing his achievement," saysLesley, who has arranged a private concert for Bev and friends on November 23 at 3pm at the nursing home. "All he needs now is a company to join him and fulfil my promise."

Issuing an invitation to Bev's musical friends, Lesley says: "Come and watch or come and join in. Song sheets can be handed out. Don't forget he wants to hear a full company sing The Impossible Dream after hearing it at Ripon Amateur Operatic Society a few weeks ago.

"It would be lovely to have a back-up pianist, as Bev does get tired, and possibly a little bit frustrated if he feels he's not doing it well. The entire concert will be filmed for anyone to have a copy. "

The impromptu concert will take place in the large upstairs dining room and there will be free tea and biscuits. "It will be informal but Bev will be wearing his dinner jacket and bow tie because 'that is what I do', he told me. 'It's important to have standards'." says Lesley.

"He may only manage to play one number satisfactorily because it all depends upon how his brain is on the day, bearing in mind he can only think of 'the moment', not an hour ago, not yesterday, not tomorrow, though maybe 50 years ago. I can take in the sheet music, but he doesn't read it – he never did – and finds it difficult now, so we'll have to rely on him remembering the numbers when prompted by a bit of singing."

For more details on taking part in the concert, please contact Lesley by emailing lesleyannjones@hotmail.co.uk