A Musselburgh musician has raised more than £1,200 in memory of his beloved grandad, who died after a short battle with sepsis.

Ciaran Walker, who took up the post of organist and director of music at St Michael’s Church, Inveresk, earlier this year, organised a recent concert to raise funds for Sepsis Research (FEAT), which attracted an audience of more than 100 people.

His grandad Robert Gray, who was born and bred in Musselburgh, passed away on October 2, 2020, from the condition, which occurs when the body’s response to an infection damages its own tissues.

Mr Gray was remembered at ‘An Autumn Serenade’ in St Michael’s, when a group of young musicians joined to perform a range of music.

Mr Gray was brought up by his parents Rab and Famie Gray, with brother Ricky, above the Fish Pend on North High Street.

He attended Musselburgh Congregational Church, which his family are still part of today.

A keen member of the Boys’ Brigade, he gained its highest honour – The Queen’s Badge.

Mr Gray left the Burgh Primary School as Dux and, after his education at Musselburgh Grammar School, secured a job with the HMRC in Coatbridge.

He went on to become a manager with the Post Office, based at its then Edinburgh headquarters West Port House, where he worked up until his retirement aged 47.

Although this early retirement was prompted by illness at the time, he made a good recovery and went on to enjoy a long and happy retirement.

His wife Allison died suddenly in July 2000. Ciaran was 18 when his grandad passed away at the age of 75 and had just started his music degree at the University of Edinburgh.

Now 20, he is in the third year of his studies.

Ciaran, a former head boy at Musselburgh Grammar School, said: “We had a wonderful musical evening in St Michael’s Inveresk.

“The concert was opened by myself on the famous Lewis pipe organ, followed by a range of performances from other local young musicians.

“The audience of over 100 people enjoyed a varied programme of music split over two halves with an interval in between, where there was a bake sale to help raise more funds for the charity.

“The programme included everything from Handel to jazz and each item was performed with a real sense of style and musicality.

“I was delighted with each of the young musicians who took part.

“Those involved came from the University of Edinburgh, Angus Emond of Newtongrange Silver Band, Musselburgh Grammar School, Dunbar Grammar School and North Berwick High School.”

At the end of the evening, Ciaran presented a cheque for £960 to sepsis survivors Sarah Weatherson and Kimberley Bradley, who received the funding on behalf of Sepsis Research (FEAT). Further donations came in after the concert, which took the total raised to £1,270.