THE former Bishop of Worcester, the Rt Rev Philip Goodrich, has died in hospital after a short illness.

Bishop Philip, 71, who retired from the diocese in 1996, was Bishop of Worcester for 14 years from 1982.

The father-of-four, who sat in the House of Lords, backed the ordination of women.

He also launched a Church of England appeal to help deprived inner city areas.

After his retirement Bishop Philip moved to Sutton St Nicholas, Herefordshire, with his wife Margaret.

Speaking in 1997 he said he was not about to "settle for old age, ham tea and a game of dominoes".

It is believed he had hoped to travel to Tanzania later this month.

The present Bishop of Worcester, the Rt Revd Dr Peter Selby, paid tribute to his "approachable, generous" predecessor.

He said: "I loved his gracious humour which was a wonderful antidote for anybody who wanted to take themselves or the church too seriously.

"When I came here I immediately discovered the warmth of the affection in which he was held.

"You can tell very quickly the atmosphere of a diocese and how much of it, in the case of Worcester, is owed to the generosity, graciousness and Godliness of the person I have been privileged to succeed."

Bishop Goodrich is survived by Margaret and his daughters Joanna, Philippa, Rosalind and Olivia.

Details of his funeral were not available as the Shuttle/Times & News went to press.