DWINA Gibb, widow of Bee Gees singer Robin Gibb, fought back tears as she read out the poem she penned for her husband's funeral.

Legendary singer Robin died in 2012 and at his funeral wife Dwina read out her poem My Songbird Has Flown.

Now Mrs Gibb has read out her poetic tribute to her husband in Oxford at the launch of a new poetry anthology, published to raise funds for the charity Standing Voice, which supports people with albinism in East Africa.

Kennington fundraiser Sylvia Vetta approached Mrs Gibb and asked if her poem could be included in the new book.

Following the launch of the anthology in the Old Library at St Mary the Virgin church in Oxford last week Mrs Gibb, who lives in Thame, said: "Sylvia is fantastic at organising this sort of thing and I was delighted to help.

"Sylvia asked me for a poem inspired by a work of art so I thought I would submit this, as Robin helped to create a body of work which affected so many people.

"I recited the poem at the funeral and it was the first time I had read it since – I was trying not to cry and my voice was shaking.

"It was the first time I had read it since the funeral so it was hard to do.

"It's been five years but you do not get over it – I miss Robin terribly but lives goes on."

Mrs Gibb said she was now comforted by the presence of her son Robin-John Gibb, 34, his wife Megan and their two children Maxwell, four, and Teddy, two.

She said: "Robin-John and his family live in the gatehouse and his children call me nanna.

"I love it when they burst into song.

"When they were very little they used to hold out their hands in a certain way that would remind me of Robin."

Mrs Gibb said she enjoyed writing poetry and was teaching a course on Yeats at Hawkwood College in Stroud, Gloucestershire.

She added: "Sylvia is brilliant at getting people together to support good causes and I wanted to do anything I could to help these poor children who suffer from albinism."

With brothers Maurice and Barry, Robin Gibb sold more than 200 million records worldwide and notched up dozens of hits, including Tragedy, which reached number one in the UK in 1979.

He died following a long battle with cancer aged 62.

Ms Gibb said she was a particular fan of the song Woman in Love, which Robin helped to write for Barbra Streisand.

She added: "He was writing that when I first met him so that's a favourite but I love all of them."

Albinism is a congenital disorder characterised by the complete or partial absence of pigment in the skin, hair and eyes.

In some African countries albinos are discriminated against because of the condition and face violence and harassment.

Ms Vetta said: "I approached some mostly Oxford based poets to contribute to this anthology.

"The idea is that all proceeds from direct sales will go to Standing Voice for the art summer school they run on the island of Ukerewe in the training centre built by Standing Voice.

"Young people with and without the disease will enjoy art together forming friendships and changing attitudes."

More than £700 has already been raised with the sale of the anthology, published price £6.99 for OxfordFolio.