Parents remember remarkable Newport son

The parents of a talented Newport musician have paid tribute to their 'remarkable' son who has died aged 23.

Pete Walford, who suffered from Duchenne muscular dystrophy, died last Thursday after his heart failed due to the condition.

The music, plane and gadget enthusiast was well known throughout the town for his inventive performances at open mic nights at the Bellmans Yard Royal Navy Club in Newport.

He was also a member of the Newport and District Model Flying Club and renowned for his exceptional ability to fly model planes.

His parents Peter and Sue described him as an "intelligent and brilliant techie" who never let his illness get in the way of his talents.

His father said: "Pete had the most brilliant engineering mind. He was a remarkable young man who was loved by the people of Newport.

"Pete always wanted to improve and move forward. He started going to the open mic nights and before long asked if he could sing, but he was a massive rock fan and he really wanted to play the bass guitar.

"He couldn't move his arms but he was so gifted with technology that he managed to create a program that allowed him to play all the notes of a bass guitar through a laptop and a PlayStation controller.

"What he could do with technology was amazing.

The couple added their thanks to Pete's carers Neil Willday, Luke Bench and Kellie Pitt, and outstanding staff at Hope House.