Patients in a ward at Nevill Hall Hospital will be able to enjoy watching television thanks to the generosity of a patient and his family.

Tom Drabble, 97, of Monmouth was admitted to ward 4/4 at the Abergavenny hospital in April and after a week of specialist intervention was ready to go home and catch up on his favourite television programmes as there were no TVs on the ward.

He talked to his stepson John Maun of Burton on Trent about it and they decided he would donate six 32inch television sets, one for each four-bed room.

John said: “We decided that this would ensure patients in future could enjoy their favourite programmes while away from home. We spoke to the Sister in charge and consulted the hospital management team and they gave their blessing.

“Sadly Tom died on April 17 at the age of 97 but in his memory we purchased the TVs.

‘‘It has been a real pleasure to play a part in this and I hope the hospital will be able to buy more sets with future donations.”

Sister Helen Golding said: ”We are so grateful to Mr Drabble and his family.

‘‘We now have enough for our four-bed bays so any future donations will be used to buy sets for our side rooms.”

Mr Maun revealed that his stepfather was an avid television fan and enjoyed Emmerdale, Coronation Street, Countryfile, Countdown and quiz and travel programmes.

After an idyllic childhood on the family farm in Yorkshire he went on to study in Sheffield University.

He served with the RAF in the Middle East during the second world war in the specialist field of radar.

After the war he worked in Nigeria as a college vice principal and schools inspector before obtaining a job as a science and maths teacher at Monmouth Boys School.

He was a stalwart member of St Mary’s Church, Monmouth for more than 50 years.