A RESPECTED former Worcester mayor who witnessed the arrival of the wireless and TV in the Faithful City has died at the age of 102.

Herbert John Evans, known as Bert, passed away peacefully in Fern-down, Dorset, on Friday, after a happy retirement by the coast. He died from an infection after battling cancer for a number of decades.

The pioneering Worc-ester businessman spent his first 63 years in the city and gave significant public service, including taking the chains of office as mayor between 1964 and 65. He leaves his only daughter Pamela, from his first marriage to Minnie. Minnie, who supported him in his first 25 years of business, died of cancer in 1954. Tragically, Bert's second wife Joan Marian also died in 1997.

Pamela Drewett, aged 77, who now lives in Wiltshire, said: "My father was a one-off and very much self-made. He ploughed every penny he had into setting up business on his own after becoming a sergeant in the RAF and deciding he preferred being a lot more hands-on. He always kept abreast of what was happening in Worcester as he was a native of the city and my son, who still lives in Worcester, often sent him copies of the Worcester News." Mr Evans was an Independent member of Worcester City Council from 1951 until 1966, elected city alderman in 1962, City Chamberlain in 1961 and High Sheriff in 1962.

The grandfather and great-grandfather was also a past president of Worcester Rotary Club and Worcester Chamber of Commerce. City Mayor, Councillor Aubrey Tarbuck received a Christmas card from Mr Evans only last year and said he was saddened at the news, but paid tribute to a city stalwart.

"I remember Bert in the old days and he was a very prominent member of the city and very well respected. I am going to try my best to travel to Dorset for the funeral and pay my respects as well as those from the city of Worcester as a whole."

Mr Evans attended St Stephen's School and left at 13. He became a despatch rider at the height of the First World War, operating on his '30 shillings bike' from The Worcestershire Regiment recruiting office at 9 Broad Street. He later served an apprenticeship with Coomers, the electrical dealers in the Tything, continuing his education with evening classes at the Victoria Institute.

In 1921 he joined the RAF and became a technical NCO in charge of repairs but set up a business of his own when he returned in 1927, at 58 Sidbury Street, trading as County Magneto and lived over the shop where he repaired magnetos for the Midlands motor industry.

The popular figure ran the firm until the mid-1960s when he left his Northwick Close home to retire by the sea. Mr Evans' funeral will take place at Poole Crematorium at 1pm on Tuesday, February 7. Requests are for family flowers only but donations can be made to cancerBACKUP and Research into Ageing.