RELATIVES and colleagues have paid tribute to a well-loved cartoonist with a passion for sport who died this week.

Horace Winwood, whose cartoons enhanced the sports pages of the Evening News for more than half a century, died suddenly at his home on Wednesday at the age of 95.

Horace, the husband of Dorothy, followed his father, Tom, into the sign-writing business after leaving St George's C of E School in Worcester.

However, he always wanted to be a cartoonist, and was particularly inspired by Tom Webster of The Mail.

While still a teenager, Horace did his first newspaper cartoon, which appeared in the Worcestershire Advertiser.

But it was not until after the Second World War that his artistic talents began to be fully appreciated.

Horace received his long-desired breakthrough into regular cartoon work in the late 1940s, when he was invited to produce a weekly series of cartoon sketches for the Evening News' Saturday sports section, The Green 'Un.

His love of sport led to him meeting and drawing many top sportsmen, including the legendary Australian cricketer, Don Bradman.

Horace's cartoons were his passion, and he was still drawing in his 90s.

His son, Lee, said he was amazed by the number of people Horace had sketched.

"Whenever I've been to the garage or the local supermarket or even the undertaker, I've found out he's sketched them all," he said.

"He had a good innings, and enjoyed life to the full. He was a real sports enthusiast, a loving father and family man, and he will be sadly missed."

Evening News sports editor Paul Ricketts said Horace's perceptive humour won him friends everywhere, from the county's top sports professionals to the humble skittles, darts and dominoes players.

"Horace's passion for sport, particularly if it had a Worcester connection, never dimmed and his contribution to the Evening News, both as an ambassador and cartoonist, has been immense," he said.

"He will be irreplaceable."

Evening News editor Stewart Gilbert said he would be greatly missed by the sporting community in Worcestershire.

"Horace's cartoons took pride of place in the paper every Saturday," he said. "He was a great character."

Horace also leaves a daughter-in-law, Tina, and two grandchildren, John and Timothy.

His funeral will take place on Friday, April 4, at 3pm at Worcester Crematorium.