A SERVICE was held yesterday to pay respect to a priest and poet who gave emotional support to troops in the First World War and became a well known figure in the area.

Reverend Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy, from Worcester was the parish vicar at St Paul’s in the Blockhouse church.

He was an army chaplain and was known as Woodbine Willie as he was known to hand out Woodbine 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.

Canon Paul Tongue led the service at St Johns Cemetery where Reverend Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy was buried.

A photo and a box of Woodbine cigarettes was laid by Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy memorial. Mayor of Worcester Jabba Riaz and Allan Poyner, chair of Worcester’s branch of British Legion laid wreaths of poppies.

Mr Poyner said: “It was a nice short service and is more poignant this year given the centenary going on. We have done it for a good few years and hopefully it will continue.”

“He was such a well known figure amongst the troops. He was there, in a way, to keep their spirits up and he did a tremendous job of it.”

Mr Poyner also attended the Remembrance Service at Worcester Cathedral yesterday. He said: “The whole thing was very thought provoking.”

It will be 90 years next year since Reverend Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy died and Canon Paul Tongue said there will be another special occasion to mark this event.