Friends and family have paid tribute to a former music teacher at Llandrindod Wells High School, who has died at the age of 84.

Mrs Nesta Williams, who lived in Goodrich, Herefordshire, was head of music at the school during the late 1960's before moving on to Monmouth School for Girls, where she taught for 23 years.

She died after a short illness on February 1.

A talented pianist, Mrs Williams studied music under Richard Glass, who became her mentor, and she played piano at the Royal Albert Hall, Wigmore Hall and the Royal Festival Hall.

Sister Gloria Price said Nesta was a modest and talented lady who had a 'wonderful rapport' with her students.

"Very few people knew how talented Nesta was because she never talked about it and she did a tremendous amount of charity work," she said.

"Some of Nesta’s students still visited her at her house and one would come all the way from Hong Kong each year to make a special visit.

"Nesta had a wonderful rapport with her pupils and the feeling she had for music was brought out in others. She was actively involved at Raglan Parc Golf Club but music was her love."

Mr Mario Conway, former Director of Music at Monmouth School for Girls and a close friend, said: "Nesta will be remembered fondly for her elegance, kindness, positivity and warm smile.

"She introduced the Eisteddfod at the school which remains one of the creative highlights in the school calendar today.

"Nesta will be greatly missed by everyone in the Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools family and in the wider local community where she was very active."

After training as a teacher in Cardiff, Nesta became Head of Music at a school in Caerphilly, before taking up the same roles at Llandrindod Wells, Lydney and then Monmouth.

She arrived in Monmouth in 1971 and later became the Director of Music, staying with the school until her retirement in 1994.

Her funeral service will take place at St Giles’ Church in Goodrich on Saturday, February 17 at 2pm.