A CONTROVERSIAL former chairman of Herefordshire and Worcestershire's education committee has died.

Dr David Muffett, passed away last week aged 88. The Tory who represented Droitwich and became an independent, had been chairman of the committee for a decade from 1982 to when the Tories lost power of the then Hereford and Worcester County Council in 1993.

An imposing man, standing 6ft 2in tall and of hefty set, he was known for his booming voice and forthright views. He had a colonial background. He spent 16 years in the Colonial Administrative Service in Nigeria, following the end of the war.

He was given an OBE in 1960 for his administrative work in Nigeria.

He became disillusioned with the Conservatives attitude to local government in the early 1990s and declared himself independent. He served one more term on the council.

Dr Muffett was educated at Sebright School, Wolverley, near Kidderminster and commissioned into the Loyal regiment (North Lancashire) SR in 1939 as a second lieutenant. Showing great leadership skills he was a major by the time he was just 22.

He leaves a widow Kathleen, daughters Elizabeth and Amanda and son Alec and families.

His funeral will be held at 11.30 on Tuesday at St Mary's Church, Dilwyn, near Leominster, followed by cremation in Hereford. A reception will follow at the talbot Hotel, Knightwick. The pub was one of his favourite watering holes.

*The Worcester News will be featuring the life of Dr Muffett in more detail in Monday's edition.