DAVE EVANS' memory will live on forever. When the former golf club captain died suddenly in December 2000 of a blood clot his favourite charity looked set to miss out on any further help.

Just days before his death, 49-year-old Mr Evans had attended the official opening of a new facility for physically disabled pupils at Twydall Infant School at Gillingham. He had watched with pride as the youngsters played on the soft play equipment which his golf club had helped fund.

As captain of Upchurch Golf Club, near Sittingbourne, he had chosen the school as his charity of the year and collected more than £3,000. Now, more than a year later, the school is benefiting again.

They have just installed extra soft play equipment with money donated from Dave's funeral. With the £1,500 they received the school was able to add a new musical mat, some colourful spinning disks, koosh balls, glow in the dark pens, and some colourful projected disks.

Headteacher Sue Fedosiuk said: "It has given an extra interactive element to the play room which we would not have otherwise had. The children get so much more out of it than just the static play equipment. It has really made a difference."

She praised the decision by Dave's widow Pat to ask for donations rather than flowers at his funeral. She said: "It was very nice of Pat to think of us and to have contributed to the good work her husband has done."

Pat said: "Dave thought it was wonderful to have a place such as this in a school, where mainstream children and disabled children can mix. Until we spoke to a friend, who is a head teacher, we didn't even know such places existed."

The pieces of equipment are educational as well as fun for the children. The musical wall, musical squares and the light projectors work to stimulate the children's senses, while the large soft shapes and spinning discs improve the youngsters' balance and mobility.

Disability co-ordinator Peta Whistler said: "They really love it and they don't even realise they are learning. They think they are just having a nice play."