The memory of a popular choir member at Wantage Parish Church is living on in a scholarship established after his death.

Dickon Peschek, 46, killed himself with a kitchen knife in June 2003 after discovering he was terminally ill with cancer.

Last year, Oxford coroner Nicholas Gardiner recorded at an inquest that Mr Peschek had taken his own life at his home in Aldworth Road, Wantage.

Following Mr Peschek's death, choir members at SS Peter and Paul established a memorial fund to support a choral scholarship and it has now proved a major success.

The church's first scholar, Rachel Beaumont, 17, a pupil at Our Lady's Convent School in Abingdon, has now been awarded another choral scholarship -- to Cambridge University's Christ's College.

Rachel, from Abingdon, said: "The church's scholarship helped my sight-reading no end and introduced me to a lot of pieces and composers I'd never heard of.

"I am sure all the extra practice helped me to get a choral scholarship at Cambridge.

"People in the choir are really friendly and the scholarship provided a great opportunity to sing with a good church choir."

Choir member Pippa Young said: "Dickon was a much-loved member of the choir and when he died we set up a memorial fund to establish this scholarship. Dickon would have been delighted to feel that we have been able to help a talented young singer on her way.

"He cared passionately about the standard of singing in our church.

"Our award was designed to help young singers and Rachel has done very well."

Rachel, who is about to take her A-Levels, hopes to take up the scholarship at Cambridge University in October.

The choir at the church is directed by Jon Cox and consists of 40 voices, including 15 children.

There is a full-sung mass every Sunday morning and evensong once a month, with additional services for main church festivals and occasional concerts.

The choir has made tours of Ireland, the Czech Republic, Italy, France and Holland, with a further tour to Italy planned this summer.

Mr Peschek, a propmaster who worked in television, developed a love for Anglican church music when he was a chorister at Oxford University's New College.

Applications for the 2005 choral scholarship are now invited and the closing date is May 31. For further information, telephone Pippa Young on 01235 224780.