A SOBELL House day centre patient will take to the stage for the first time today to perform songs he has written while spending time at the Oxford hospice.

Day centre patient John Byneo will be performing songs which he wrote with music therapists at the hospice since coming to the centre on the Churchill Hospital site as a day centre patient 18 months ago.

He hopes to perform at a number of upcoming music festivals across Oxfordshire.

In August 2013 Mr Byneo was diagnosed with prostate cancer and osteoarthritis.

He began attending the day centre at Sobell House and a poem that he had written was spotted by music therapist Bob Heath, who suggested they put it to music.

Now working with current Sobell House music therapist Tom Crook, Mr Byneo has produced close to an album’s worth of material which he now intends to release.

He said: “It’s been such a buzz going on this musical journey, and thanks to everyone at Sobell that has helped me to do this.

“It’s been a real source of escape for me from my illness and has really lifted me up. I still haven’t taken it all in yet.”

Mr Stubbs will be performing at the Elder Stubbs Festival in Rymers Lane, Cowley, today and will follow it up with performances at the Greedy Goose Music Festival in Chipping Norton on Saturday, August 29, and at the Leys Festival in Blackbird Leys on Saturday, September 5.