TRIBUTES have been paid to a much-loved and respected Worcester businessman who died shortly before Christmas.

Mike Allen, known by many for being the face of Kitchen World in St John’s, died of a heart attack at home aged 61.

His family – wife Amelia, daughter Hayley and sons, Mark and Gary, and his brother Malcolm – paid tribute to such a kind and generous man who passed away on Thursday, December 23.

His daughter, Hayley Sherwood, said: “So many people loved and respected him and it was a great shock. We all miss him so much.”

Mr Allen, of Lower Wick, was born in Malvern but grew up in Callow End, along with brothers Malcolm and David.

He attended Callow End Primary School and later Christopher Whitehead Boys School, where he enjoyed playing sport.

He later began an apprenticeship as an electronics draftsman for the engineering company Redman, Heenan and Froude, in Shrub Hill.

At 23 he joined the Merchant Navy as an electrical engineer and ended his naval career as third officer in charge of all the electrical engineers, having travelled the world for six years.

His son Mark said: “He was always recounting stories of far away places.”

He met his wife-to-be in 1978 and they married that same year. In 1979 Hayley was born, followed by Mark in 1980 and Gary in 1982.

When he left the Navy, he joined the family business, Allgas, in the Tything, Worcester.

The business relocated 30 years ago to Henwick Road, St John’s, where it subsequently changed its name to Kitchen World, where it will continue to trade in the family tradition with Mike’s children, brother and ‘adopted son’ Gary Williams at the helm.

Mr Williams said: “He was also a devoted cricket fan, supported Spurs and enjoyed a game of golf, especially the 19th hole.”

A service will be held on Wednesday, January 19, at Worcester Crematorium at 2.30pm with a celebration at Manor Farm pub in Lower Wick afterwards.

As the service will be a celebration of his life, the family request that those attending should wear casual but smart clothes.

Family flowers only and any donations to the Salvation Army.