TRIBUTES have been paid to a Malvern priest who was still serving the church weeks before his death.

The Rev. Basil Richards, 87, died in Worcestershire Royal Hospital on Saturday after short illness.

Honorary priest at Christ Church and St Mary's from 1978 to 1984, he looked after St Mary's in Sherrards Green Road.

When Mr Richards and his wife Margaret retired to Viscount Cobham Court in Pickersleigh Road they returned to Christ Church, where he was particularly fond of taking the 8am Sunday service.

In recent years he and his wife acted as Sacristans right up until he fell ill.

Paying tribute to Mr Richards, current Christ Church vicar, The Rev. Peter Furber said: "He was a man who was full of integrity and had a good sense of humour. His ministry touched many people."

Mrs Richards said she had received dozens of letter from people saying how kind her husband had been at funerals and weddings.

"It was just an ordinary priest's work but very much appreciated," she added.

Mr Richards was involved with the Malvern Girl Guide movement and was known as 'Father Brown Owl' by the girls in his wife's Brownie pack, St Mary's in Sherrards Green.

Born in Norton in Shropshire, Mr Richards trained at Lichfield Theological College and was ordained deacon in 1953 and priest in 1954.

He served curacies in Kidder-minster and Birmingham and, after his time at Christchurch, was priest at Laslett's Almshouses in Worcester until his retirement.

His daughter Judith, son-in-law Adrian and grandchildren Katherine and Andrew live in Worcester.

Mr Richards's funeral is at Christ Church on Tuesday, December 13 at 2.30pm where his friend and former Christ Church vicar Geoffrey Shilvock will give the address.