A PAINTING generously donated in memory of Pershore stalwart Dave Shaw is the ideal way to commemorate the former town councillor, say friends.

The work of art, All About Plums, was created by local artist Michael Amies and shows a range of the purple fruit for which Pershore is famous.

And the painting would no doubt have been favoured by Mr Shaw, who died suddenly in January last year, as he was a founder of the town's Plum Festival.

It was donated anonymously by a Pershore resident in memory of Mr Shaw and presented to town councillor Chris Parsons on behalf of the town council.

He said: "Dave Shaw was a stalwart of the Pershore Plum Festival and without his involvement some years ago the chances are the Plum Festival may well have folded up so Dave was very important for everything regarding the festival.

"It's always difficult to know what to do to remember people for what they have do and I think this was an ideal way. Obviously Dave had a love for plums, the painting was done by a local person and it was donated to the town council once again by a local person.

"Everything fitted in great. It will hang in memory of Dace in the town hall and it stands for everything he believed in."

The presentation of the painting was made by Michael Amies himself and attended by members of Mr Shaw's family as well as Henry Sandon who is a regular attender at the Plum Festival.

A spokesperson for Pershore Town Council added: "Dave was the leading light in reviving the Pershore Plum Festival which is now the largest event in the town and takes place over the whole of the month of August, and a plaque explaining the dedication is attached to the painting."