DAVID Henderson is “forever grateful” for a private concert Tuart Hill musician Toby Beard played for his dying wife.
David and his Danish wife Kathrine Broch, previously of Greenwood, moved to Gjern in Denmark two years ago.
The couple had planned to attend the Skagen Festival in July to see their favourite musician, Tuart Hill-based Toby Beard, but Kathrine was too ill with cancer.
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“Carol, my previous wife, contacted Toby when she heard she was over here and asked if it would be possible to visit us,” David said.
“Without any hesitation, Toby said yes.
“I will be forever grateful for this visit.”
Toby and band members Jarrad Van Dort, Josse Sharrard and Caroline Kamp were driving from Germany to Denmark’s northern-most point and agreed to visit the David and Kathrine at their home on July 5.
They were told Kathrine had only weeks left to live.
“It was so shocking to find out that Kat was only three years older than me,” Toby said.
“I sat with Kat and it was kind of just an instant connection. It felt like we were old friends.”
The band played a set of Kathrine’s favourite songs, surrounded by her family and close friends, and Toby said it was “impossible not to cry”.
“It was a very painful, horribly sad, beautiful, magical experience,” she said.
“It felt the whole time like a real honour.”
Kathrine died four days later on July 9.
Her husband described her as the love of his life and was thankful to Toby and her band for being part of their life for a short period.
“The joy you brought to Kat and myself will be with me forever,” he said.
“Words can never express the happiness you brought into our home in that most difficult of times.”
But Toby said the musicians were grateful for the opportunity and believed the love between David and Kathrine, and the efforts of his former wife showed “how strong relationships are”.
“We can do very, very small things that can really impact someone’s life and it doesn’t have to cost lots of money or time,” she said.
“We can do something more.”
Toby next plays at The Ellington Jazz Club on September 27 and The Carine on September 30.