FORMER colleagues have paid tribute to a “wonderful man” who worked at Worcester’s Swan Theatre for more than 20 years.

Les Hill, who died last month aged 88, was well-known to theatre goers as the Swan’s front of house manager and to many children as “Uncle Les”.

During a paid and voluntary career at the Swan from its opening in 1968, Mr Hill became a favourite among staff and visitors.

After working as publicity manager for the Worcester Carnival in 1964, he was offered the same job working for the Swan, eventually becoming its general manager.

Sonia Armstrong, who worked with Mr Hill at the Swan, said he was great to work with.

She said: “He was a wonderful help to everybody. He was a wonderful man.”

Mr Hill loved performing on stage, especially in children’s theatre on a Saturday morning.

Once, in playing the part of the waiter, he missed his cue talking to the stage manager in the wings. After his co-star shouted “Basil where is the beer,” (a line not in the script), Mr Hill realised his missed cue. He was so good at ad-libbing however, no one in the audience noticed his lapse.

Christine Wargent worked with Mr Hill for nearly 21 years while she was secretary at the Swan, and is still involved with the Worcester Operatic and Dramatic Society, of which Mr Hill was a staunch supporter.

She said: “He was humorous and kind and considerate. He was just a really nice man.”

Born in 1921 at the Vulcan Arms, St Paul’s Street, Mr Hill started his printing career with Littlebury’s, a company housed in what is now the Commandery, in 1935 at the age of 14.

After going to war with the Territorial Army, Mr Hill came back to Worcester and took up his old job at Littlebury’s where he became a skilled bookbinder and printer.

At about the same time as he joined the Swan Theatre, Littlebury’s closed and Mr Hill went on to open his own business in Sansome Walk with the help of his wife, Doris, and sister, Hilda, and bought a house in Malvern – a lifetime dream. Due to his skills, Mr Hill carried out high quality work for people, including Prince Charles.

But holding down two jobs took it toll, and in 1981, the night before the couple’s Ruby wedding, Mr Hill had a heart attack and he gave up his job at the Swan, although both he and his wife still supported it on a voluntary basis.

He retired in 1988.

Years later, Ms Wargent remembers meeting Mr Hill on the streets of Worcester and he said to her: “When I go back to Malvern I feel like I’m going back on holiday.”

Mr Hill, died from a heart attack on Friday, November 20. He leaves his wife Doris, two children and six grandchildren. His funeral took place on Wednesday.