AN INQUEST will finally be held today into the death of a renowned York musician following his stay at a care home, more than two years ago.

The two-day hearing in Harrogate follows a Crown Prosecution Service decision last year not to prosecute any individual or organisation over Bev Jones’ death in February 2016.

Mr Jones, 75, of Copmanthorpe, a leading chorister, composer, arranger, teacher and musical director who sang as a schoolboy at the Queen’s Coronation, died at Harrogate Hospital after being taken there by paramedics from Thistle Hill care home in Knaresborough.

The Press has reported previously that North Yorkshire Police was called in by North Yorkshire County Council’s Adult Safeguarding team to examine the circumstances surrounding his death.

Officers carried out a detailed assessment before determining whether a criminal investigation was required,

The CPS examined the possibility of pursuing charges of gross negligence manslaughter, corporate manslaughter and wilful neglect but a senior CPS official last year upheld an earlier decision that there was insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction for any criminal offence.

Mr Jones’ widow Lesley has said previously that his death came as a ‘huge shock,’ saying he had suffered from vascular dementia but had been ‘his usual giggly self’ the day before he died, enjoying tea and biscuits, and she had video of him singing with their grandson days earlier.

She said last week that she planned to attend today’s hearing at Harrogate Justice Centre and ask questions personally, adding: “This has been a long time coming, after months of investigation by the police and the CPS.

“I seek nothing but justice for his death, in the hope it will not happen to other vulnerable patients.”

Barchester Healthcare, which owns Thistle Hill, said last year that as the investigation for the inquest was ongoing, it could not comment in detail, due to its respect for the official process.

But it added: “We can say that the health and wellbeing of our residents is of paramount importance to us.”