FORMER Tenbury Wells town councillor Tom Matthews, who served five terms of office as mayor, has died at the age of 81.

Mr Matthews, known for his catch phrase "No problem" and affectionately called "Mr Tenbury", was a founder member of Tenbury Town Band and supported it to the last by asking for donations to buy much-needed instruments rather than flowers for his funeral.

He was a founder member and former voluntary manager of Tenbury Swimming Pool and also once ran the town's voluntary ambulance service.

He was founder of Tenbury Youth Football Club, which had one of its most successful seasons under his leadership, winning a clutch of trophies.

He was also a past president of Tenbury Football Club and a former referee in the Kidderminster League.

Awarded an MBE in 1983 for his services to local government, he said it was his experience as a prisoner of war in Germany that made him want to do all he could to make a better life for people.

He had first joined Tenbury Parish Council in 1947 and later served on both Leominster District Council, of which he was an honorary alderman and Tenbury Town Council, where he was joined as a councillor by one of his five children, Mrs Pat Weaver.

After the re-organisation of local government, he served as a shadow member of Malvern Hills District Council in 1997-98 and was a member from May 1998 until May 2000.

Mr Matthews died peacefully at Haresbrook Nursing Home on Friday, October 18. The funeral will be held at St Mary's Church tomorrow at 3pm.