FRIENDS and family of a well-known 69-year-old Norton man who died just days before he could complete a fund-raising challenge are taking over the efforts in his memory.

Howard Peters, a former secretary of Worcester Sports Council, set himself the challenge of trying 70 sports in the 70 days up to his 70th birthday.

He asked friends, family and neighbours to sponsor him to raise £7,000 for St Richard's Hospice in Worcester.

But before he could complete the task, Mr Peters, of Toulouse Drive in the village near Worcester, died last Sunday - only days before his 70th birthday on Thursday.

His wife Jean, aged 68, said Howard went into hospital on Sunday, October 29, suffering from jaundice, but died of multiple organ failure caused by an extremely rare blood condition called aplastic anaemia.

She said she and Howard met in Manchester and were married in 1958.

The pair moved to Worcester in 1981, when he came to manage and open Perdiswell Sports Centre. He also worked at Worcester Racecourse and Nunnery Wood and St John's Sports Centres.

Howard also did regular massages as well as helping with the sports and swimming groups for the disabled he had set up. He was also a governor at Thornton House Special School, Worcester.

After his retirement in 1997 he was involved in the Norton pantomime, the Worcester Philatelic Society, the Malvern Light Operatic Society, and the Gilbert and Sullivan Society.

"He was a little treasure really. I used to say you're going to get yourself poorly but he was just so fit I would say these things and never mean them," said Jean.

"It's just left a big hole in so many people's lives - that sums him up, he just touched people's lives."

Jean said Howard had taken on similar challenges for his 40th, 50th and 60th birthdays and added: "He had done 38 sports and had raised just over £5,000 so he was doing well.

"He died at about 6.45pm and at 7pm that evening he should have been playing five-a-side with my son-in-law."

Carole Lorimer, 52, of Cornmeadow Lane, Claines, is one person organising events to carry on Howard's challenge and will be holding a dance at Nunnery Wood Sports Centre on December 1.

She said: "He was lovely. He hated saying no to people. If you asked him to do anything, he did his utmost to do it and carry it out. He was genuine, honest and trustworthy."

Howard Peters also leaves his son and daughter Keith and Cheryl and two grandchildren.

A funeral will be held at Worcester Crematorium on Friday at noon.