Children's plays written by the late wife of Bernard Aaron have been published in tribute to a talented playwright. Joanna Davis finds out more.

A musician is celebrating the publication of his late wife's children's plays.

Devoted Bernard Aaron, of Dorchester, was determined to get his wife Florence Novelli's plays in print and has just seen four of them published with two more to come.

The publication comes at the same time as Bernard, who plays the guitar at Dorchester venues under the stage name Bernardo, has released his original guitar composition for a ballet - Mightier than the Sword.

Mightier than the Sword tells the story of a composer, performer and his playwright wife who are ignored by the 'arts inquisition'.

Creative couple Bernard and Florence spent many happy years in Toronto, Canada, with Florence composing children's plays and Bernard writing the music for them.

Peppercorn's Magic, one of the plays now available to buy, was first performed at the Theatre-in-the-Dell in Toronto in 1969.

It tells the story of a princess who is about to get married but has her big day spoilt by a troll. Luckily, Mr Peppercorn, an Irish leprechaun, comes along with some magic to fix things.

The other children's plays to be published are Itchy, Snitchy and Boo, Misty the Little Lost Cloud and Christmas story Santa and the King.

Mrs Oodle Noodle and Santa and Spindlerion and the Princess will shortly be listed on Amazon.com.

Florence died after she and Bernard moved back to the UK and settled in Dorchester.

Bernard said: "I remember Florence as the most gifted children's playwright in the world.

"When we lived in Canada we had the best theatre possible to perform her plays in.

"To me it seems like a miracle to see her plays published. I wish Florence could be alive to see it."

Bernard is a regular fixture at Dorchester venues where he plays the guitar.

He said: "My wife and I both agreed that Dorchester was the best place for us to be. People there are very polite and friendly."

Bernard dreams of seeing Mightier Than the Sword, a ballet for guitar and orchestra, performed on the stage one day.

He has dedicated it to his 'angel of a wife' Florence. It was orchestrated in collaboration with Ian Phillips-Kerr of Music Works.

Keen traveller Bernard has invited friends and people he has met around the world to listen to it and it has been described as 'beautiful with every note coming from the heart'. Another friend said 'It has brought us much joy'.

And wherever Bernard goes, it would appear that his musical reputation opens up doors.

On a recent visit to Grenada, clutching a copy of an article about him in Dorchester Life, he gained free entry to a flamenco club and got to meet his hero, the flamenco guitarist Sabicas.

*Bernard and Florence's children's books can be found at Amazon. For information on Mightier Than the Sword, contact Bernardo by emailing thecontinentalsduo@gmail.com