A DEVOTED member of Cookley and Wolverley's Royal British Legion for 30 years has died.

Clive Wallbank had served the branch in many roles over the last three decades, including as standard bearer, treasurer and most recently, up until his death, as chairman.

Alongside his wife Karen, Clive helped to raise several thousands of pounds over the years for the Poppy Appeal by organising Wolverley Carnival and holding daily bucket collections every November.

He was also the organiser behind Wolverley and Cookley's annual Remembrance Day parades.

Clive was born in Birmingham but spent much of his life living in Kidderminster. In his youth, he served in the Queen's Own Hussars, driving tanks in Germany and Bovington from 1968 to 1971, before being medically discharged.

He maintained a strong connection to the military throughout his life - through his service to the Royal British Legion and with annual visits to the Tank Museum at Bovington.

A father-of-one and grandfather to two, Clive passed away on July 8, aged 71, following a two-year battle with oesophageal cancer.

Paying tribute to him, his daughter Felicity Harrison, said: "He liked making model tanks in his spare time and anything to do with the British Legion, he loved. He lived and breathed it.

"He was a really happy guy, he would do anything for anybody. No one had a bad word to say about him and he never had a bad word for anybody else.

"He was a much-loved member of the community, living on Comberton estate for over 40 years.

"He shall be very dearly missed by his family and friends and all of the Cookley and Wolverley Royal British Legion Branch."

A funeral will be held this Thursday. Any donations in Clive's memory will be split between Macmillan Cancer Support and the Royal British Legion. Cheques should be made out to B Ince, of Bewdley, DY12 2DX.