A MAN who came to the UK as a German Prisoner of War and decided to stay after settling in Herefordshire has died aged 78.

Heinz Grubel was conscripted as a young man into the German army and served on the Eastern Front before he was captured by the Allies and transported to England as a prisoner of war.

He enjoyed his time working on the farms so when the war ended he decided to stay, relates the latest edition of 'The Septet' Frome Valley Church group newsletter.

Mr Grubel married Jen and had three daughters and settled in Cradley. Following Jen's death, Mr Grubel met and married Mandy in 1990.

The couple and Mandy's daughter Tina moved to Broadfield Close in Bishops Frome where they soon made friends as neighbours discovered Mr Grubel's approachable nature and that he would readily help anyone.

The couple's first daughter Anna Maria was born in 1993 and their family was made complete when Melissa Jane came along in 1995.

Mr Grubel was involved in local events and even played the part of Father Christmas at a children's party.

Anna and Melissa were the only children that refused to sit on his lap! All the other youngsters enjoyed the friendly Father Christmas but Anna and Melissa could not understand where their dad had gone!

A first class tradesman, he was an excellent carpenter and joiner and managed to finish making windows for his latest project just before he died.

Mr Grubel leaves his wife Mandy and children Anna, Melissa, Tina, Joanna, Debbie and Jenny.