A MAN abseiled down hospital walls with his late wife’s ashes in his pocket to raise money for the nurses who cared for her.

Ken Thornton-Jeffery, 72, braved the John Radcliffe Hospital abseil on National Nurses Day on Sunday.

He joined a team of 20 nurses from the Emergency Assessment Unit.

Mr Thornton-Jeffery, from Carterton, said: “It was for my wife who died on July 25 last year – or rather to give a little something back for what the staff and nurses did for her.

“When I was actually about to abseil there was a bit or trepidation but it was actually very enjoyable.

“I was at the bottom before I knew it. I wish it could have been longer.”

Elaine Thornton-Jeffery died of kidney failure at the Oxford hospital after stomach surgery four years previously.

More than 140 people abseiled down the walls for causes including Heads Up head and neck cancer research fund, and the Silver Star special care baby unit.

More than £35,000 was raised on the day.

Hospital spokesman Sarah Vaccari said: “We had people aged 18 to 80 abseiling, and as always we have been overwhelmed by some of the emotional reasons people have for taking part.

“Many abseiled for loved ones, others were staff who wanted to do an extra bit for their patients.”