THE work of one of Worcester's famous sons was commemorated today as a blue plaque was unveiled at the city's St Paul's Church.

The official plaque remembers Reverend Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy, one of the most memorable figures of the First World War and the parish vicar at St Paul's in the Blockhouse church in Worcester in 1914 when war broke out.

He became an army chaplain and was best known as Woodbine Willie, for his time spent in the trenches handing out cigarettes to the troops.

His time at war on the front line earned him the Military Cross and he went onto become the personal chaplain to King George V before his death in 1929.

Now his legacy is set to live on, something his grandson said is well deserved.

Speaking before unveiling the plaque Nigel Studdert Kennedy thanked those involved and afterwards he added: "Personally it's a great honour for me. I think my grandfather was a very modest man, so I am not sure proud is the word, I think he would be pleased that he is still remembers after all it's nearly 100 years since he went to war.

"He was a famous son of Worcester and I think he will always be. It's a well deserved marking."

The service to dedicate the plaque was introduced by former church leader, Revd Peter Boyd, who said of Studdert Kennedy: "He left a great legacy for our city, for us to follow. A legacy of compassion."

The plaque is now the fifth in recent years to be installed thanks to the civic society. Stephen Inman, chairman of the society, said they were "delighted" to have been able to commemorate Studdert Kennedy.

A number of dignitaries attended the service, which was followed by the chance to explore a display on the work of Woodbine Willie, who also wrote poetry about his experiences in the war.

One of these guests was Canon Paul Tongue, who has done extensive research into the man who is buried in St. John's Cemetery.

He read an extract written by Studdert Kennedy about the memorial in front of St Paul's Church, which he also designed, and asked people to look on his work.

Written in 1921 it ended: "People are forgetting the war and I cannot blame them altogether. But we must not forget the lessons we ought to have learnt from it. Take that message home and remember to keep the memory of it ever green."