A SOLICITOR who was at the forefront of public life but found his spiritual home watching the county cricket team has died.

John Pugh died at St Richard's Hospice in Worcester, aged 74, of pancreatic cancer.

Mr Pugh, of Upton-upon-Severn, lived within the county all his life and was actively involved in Worcestershire County Cricket Club.

He was an elected member of the club's general committee between 1980 and 1994.

Mr Pugh passed away Monday, April 14, and his funeral service was held at Catshill Church just outside Bromsgrove on Monday, April 21.

His son Jonathan described his father as a traditional man, a "strong character" who was always well-presented, organised, had impeccable morals and was never flustered or late.

He said: "He was very fond of cricket and had been interested in the sport since he was a boy. He never lived outside the county in his life. Worcestershire County Cricket Club was almost like his spiritual home."

He qualified as a solicitor in 1957, prosecuted for West Mercia Police and for the West Midlands Traffic Commissioner and helped set up his own firm of solicitors in Bromsgrove.

He was part-time clerk to the magistrates in Alcester and wrote for the Law Society's Gazette on foreign property and travel.

In 1973 together with the late Joe Hunt he founded the Housman Society in honour of the poet AE Housman.

Mr Pugh lived in the poet's old house in Bromsgove.

In 1984 he was asked by Bromsgrove District Council to chair the Housman Memorial Committee with a view to commissioning and putting up a statue of the poet in Bromsgrove's High Street which was unveiled by the Duke of Westminster in 1985.

In 1985 he was appointed deputy traffic commissioner for the West Midlands and in February 1987 was appointed traffic commissioner for the West Midlands and South Wales traffic areas.

He is the only traffic commissioner to hold the post for four traffic areas and retired at the age of 65.

Mr Pugh's parents were also important figures in public life - he was the son of prosecuting solicitor to the city of Birmingham and his mother was assistant medical officer for health with Worcestershire County Council.

Mr Pugh is survived by three children, Sally, Jonathan and Edward and by wife Maggie.

His son Jonathan is the Times Pocket cartoonist "Pugh".

  • Leave your tributes to Mr Pugh below.