A PROMINENT Bolton pianist has created a moving musical piece in tribute to murdered aid worker Alan Henning.

Dr Stephen J Wood penned the classical piece, entitled Pavane, after the brutal killing of Mr Henning in Syria by his Islamic State captors.

He is now hoping that people will buy the piece online, with any money raised from sales going go to the Alan Henning memorial fund, set up for the aid worker’s bereaved family.

Dr Wood, from Turton, who has been teaching piano in the area for 30 years, said: “You hear news like this and just feel completely helpless, so I wanted to use what skills I have to do whatever I could to help and if it can raise any money then that would be fantastic.”

Traditionally, a pavane is often used to accompany a solemn procession of mourning and may also be a bittersweet work of remembrance.

Dr Wood explained: “This is a short and very accessible contemporary classical work.

“I had been intending to write a Pavane for a workshop I was involved in but the news of Alan Henning’s death galvanised me to begin writing and I composed and recorded it in one day.”

The 54-year-old did not know Mr Henning, but worked as a lecturer for 20 years at Salford University, near the aid worker’s home town of Eccles.

Dr Wood added: “Alan Henning’s death has profoundly shocked many people from around the world, the impact of which has been particularly significant in the Greater Manchester area.

"This work is dedicated not only to Alan Henning’s memory, but also to the many innocent people and especially children caught up in the events in the Middle East whom he so wanted to help — and to all humanitarian aid workers.”

Pavane is available at cdbaby.com/cd/stephenjwood4.

The piece can also be downloaded from most major digital distributors including iTunes and Amazon.