A rarely-heard piece by Vivaldi recorded in Wanstead is being released as a charity single in memory of a devoted community campaigner who died of cancer.


Geoff Horsnell, of Gloucester Road, has spent the last three years putting together the CD in memory of his partner and former Wanstead Society chairwoman Anne Barlow, who passed away in 2010.


It features an original song and poem The Long Amen co-written with his sister, along with Cessate Omai Cessate by Italian classical composer Antonio Vivaldi.


Music enthusiast Ms Barlow, who died at the age of 61, first heard the rarely-recorded piece on the radio in 2009 and was keen to sing it, but by the time Mr Horsnell tracked down a copy of the out-of-print score she was too ill to perform the tune.


Mr Horsnell, who described the process of putting together the CD as a "cathartic labour of love", said he hoped it was a fitting tribute to his partner, who suffered from lung and secondary bone cancer.


He said: "When I spoke to Cancer Research UK they told me there was no funding for secondary bone cancer, so I really wanted to do something to help.


“They said to me if I wanted to set up a project they would establish a fund, so now we have the Anne Barlow Cancer Fund which is going to help to provide further clinical trials of drugs which may help reverse and repair the damage caused by it.”


The couple met 20 years previously at a choir in Epping and music was always a big part of their life together, so friends and family were threw their enthusiastic support behind the project.


Mr Horsnell, 62, enlisted the help of Wanstead Chamber Orchestra, The Christ Church Ensemble and other professional singers to record the CD at Christ Church earlier this year.


“I've been very grateful for everyone's help and support”, said Mr Horsnell.


“I'm pleased with how the CD has turned out. I hope she'd be proud of it and that it's something she would have wanted.”


The single will officially be released on August 1 - the third anniversary of her death.


The CD is priced at £3 and features on its cover a photograph of a tree planted on Christchurch Green in her memory.


It is available from amazon.co.uk and in Wanstead shops including the fittingly-named Anne's newsagent in Nightingale Lane.