A CONSULTANT who helped establish vital cancer services in Worcester has died, a victim of the disease that he helped others fight against.

Doctor John Mould, who was 61, held cancer clinics at the Worcester Royal Infirmary's Castle Street site for almost 20 years.

He was heavily involved in the opening of the chemotherapy treatment suite at Castle Street and fully supported the setting up of St Richard's Hospice and other cancer support groups.

Mr Mould, who was single, passed away in a hospice in Dorset.

He formed a strong bond with the people of Worcester before retiring as a consultant oncologist for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, in April 2001. The cancer support groups he helped set up were some of the first to offer both patients and families an informal information service.

Friend and colleague, Dr Jenny Bulman, said: "John was always ready to listen and understand his patients' anxieties.

"His commitment to doing everything possible to help them fight their illness was a huge inspiration and encouragement to everyone, and while he always insisted that it was teamwork that helped give the best quality of care, it was his leadership that made it possible.

"It was a very busy clinic but he would get involved with the patients' lives.

"People felt they could talk to him and he believed in telling people the truth."

Mr Mould enjoyed painting watercolours, amateur dramatics, and he was also an accomplished pianist.