A FORMER trustee of Coughton Court's Roman Catholic Church and first cousin of Clare Throckmorton has died.

The funeral of Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Twickel was held at the Catholic Church at 2pm yesterday and a reception for more than 300 family and friends took place at the Throckmorton family home afterwards.

Lt Col Twickel, who lived in Tidmington, died after a bicycle accident.

He was born in Bohemia in 1941 and brought up in Germany before becoming a British citizen in 1966.

Shortly afterwards he joined the 9th/12th Royal Lancers and retired a Lieutenant Colonel in 1993.

In later life, he supported many causes, including St John's Ambulance, and was also involved with fund-raising for a children's hospital in Croatia.

Lt Col Twickel was the son of Baroness von Twickel - the last person to be born with the historic Throckmorton name.

He leaves a widow, Neville and two daughters, Angela and Matilda.