LEDBURY is preparing to pay a fond farewell to Bill Masefield MBE, a much-loved pillar of the local community who was also the nephew of the former Poet Laureate, John Masefield.

Mr Masefield, who was 92, died on May 1, following a long battle against Alzheimer's.

His funeral will take place at St Michael and All Angels Church on Wednesday, May 16, at 2pm, and a large number of mourners is anticipated, because of Mr Masefield's very high profile roles in public life, over so many years.

He was awarded the MBE in 2003 New Year’s honours list for services to healthcare in Ledbury, in recognition of his chairmanship of the Friends of Ledbury Cottage Hospital, for over half a century.

His son, Charles said: "He was a lovely, gentle, kind man and a wonderful father; supportive and sympathetic, and he was great fun to be around.

"He did so much in the community, and I had the impression that it was in no way a burden to him. He was interested in people and, to him, public service was a joy."

Bill Masefield worked as a solicitor, only retiring at the age of 78, in 2003, but he was equally active in serving the community in unpaid but important roles.

He was chairman of governors of Ledbury Grammar School and the first chairman of governors at the John Masefield High School, which was named after his famous uncle.

For many years, Mr Masefield was also a trustee of Elizabeth Barrett Browning building, the town's former library, and with the help of an architect he carried out detailed investigations into disabled access, to see if it could be retained as a library.

Bill Masefield was also trustee and secretary of Emma Russell educational foundation.

He was a popular chairman of Ledbury Cricket Club and was captain of the 2nd Xl for a quarter of a century.

Mr Masefield also served as chairman of Ledbury Rugby Club and he was, for many years, honorary auditor of Ledbury Football Club.

He was president of the Ledbury Horticultural society and Ledbury Ploughing Society; secretary of the Ledbury Educational Foundation and also, for many years, chairman of Ledbury Community Transport Association.

In 2011, as the last surviving founder-member of Ledbury Rotary, he was given the honour of being made an honorary member of the club.

Mr Masefield always had fond memories of his uncle, the poet John Masefield, and at a Rotary Club meeting in 2010, he had the surprise and pleasure of hearing a recording of his uncle reading the poem “cargoes”, during a presentation on John Masefield’s life.

Bill Masefield was born in 1925, the second son of Charles Briscoe Masefield and Violet Dorothy Masefield.

He attended Charterhouse public school and afterwards, New College, Oxford, where he studied law and naval training, and he served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War.

After the war, and being fond of jazz, he went on tour with his brother, playing trombones and drums.

Charles Masefield said: "At one of these gigs, my father met my mother, Terry. They dated for a while, my father going to see my mother in Manchester in his Riley.

"They were married in October 1958 and had two children: me born in 1960 and Amanda, born in 1966."

Charles added: "Bill and Terry were very happy together and Bill looked after Terry when she became ill from around 2000. Terry died on November, 2008."

The funeral arrangements for Bill Masefield are being handled by Ledbury Funeral Services in The Homend.

Private flowers will be welcomed, and donations will be divided between the Alzheimer's Society and St Michael and All Angels Church.