A grandfather is still “going strong” and running performances of opera in his garden - at the grand age of 93.

Robbie Bishop, of Bouncers Farm, Wickham Hall Lane, Wickham Bishops, fell in love with opera when he lived in Rome, where he worked as a Agricultural Economist from 1952 until 1980.

After immersing himself in the musical culture and joining an amateur dramatic society in Italy, on his return to England he was inspired to make opera accessible to the masses.

He achieved his dream in 2002 at the age of 81, setting up Opera in The Orchard at his home.

The next performance at Bouncers Farm will be Puccini’s classic La Bohème on July 12 at 5pm.

Visit operaintheorchard.co.uk for ticket information.

See this week's Braintree and Witham Times for full story.