FRIENDS and family of a well-known Droitwich man have this week paid tribute to the "kind, caring" pensioner who died after breaking his hip.

Tom Cheek, a popular member of the Spa community, died following an operation after he fell at a friend's home and broke his hip.

The active 83-year-old, who lived in Seven Dale, visited many people in nursing homes around the town and helped to run a Monday Club at the Emanuel Church, in Blake Avenue, for 26 years with his wife, Margaret.

Tom dedicated much of his time to others but did it behind the scenes because he was embarrassed by public recognition.

Despite this, he won a number of awards for community service and at the age of 73 he was given an award by Bovis retirement homes.

More recently Droitwich-based Exel Logistics honoured him for 30 years of continuous service in youth work.

He died on April 2 and was cremated on Wednesday, April 10 at Worcester Crematorium. A service followed at Droitwich's Emanuel Church.

Church minister Rob Swallow said: "Tom was a wonderful man.

"He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and recently, great-grandfather.

"I, along with many others, will miss him greatly and will have a much richer life for knowing him."

His granddaughter, Gaynor Moore, said: "He was a kind, caring man who couldn't do enough for people.

"He would give you the world, even if he didn't have it."