DEVASTATED friends and relatives of Stourbridge stalwart Martin Fellows are set to pay their last respects at his funeral on Friday May 9.

The 63-year-old Stourbridge Township Council clerk died of a heart attack on April 28 after a long illness.

A solicitor by trade - Martin from Pargeter Street was clerk for more than 20 years to Stourbridge Township Council, which he helped set up in 1979 to look after the town's interests after Stourbridge's own council was abolished.

Township Council chairman Margaret Scott paid tribute to his dedication to the town.

She said: "We were all a bit shattered. He was a nice chap and very clever and very keen on looking after Stourbridge.

"We're devastated that we've lost him. He'd not been to meetings for quite a while because of his illness, but he kept in touch. "We were really surprised to lose him so quickly and so unexpectedly."

Martin, who leaves a wife Jane and mother Molly, had also been town clerk of Hereford City Council for ten years - following 20 years as principal solicitor to Wyre Forest District Council.

He was also the associate town clerk and clerk to the Kidderminster Town Charter Trustees - as well as being a keen bell ringer at St Thomas's Church, Stourbridge, where he was the tower keeper.

His funeral will be held at St Thomas's Church, Market Street, Stourbridge, at 1.30pm.