TRIBUTES have been issued to a long-serving landlord who was the “life and soul of the party.”

Tim Radley, 61, was the landlord of the Hop Pole pub in Friar Street, Droitwich for 21 years before dying last month after a battle with cancer.

Chris Wilson, the new landlord, who worked with Mr Radley for 17 years said: “He was an absolute legend, such a brilliant bloke. He was kind and caring. It has been a massive shock to all of us.

“He was like a dad to me.

“The pub has improved a lot whilst he was here, it is a proper CAMRA real ale pub now and it wins a lot of different awards.

“He fought for 18 months (with the cancer) but it eventually got the better of him.”

Sheridan Russell, who worked with Mr Radley for 14 years at the pub said: “He was the life and soul of the party.

“He was a very colourful character. He was very well-known by a lot of people.

“People remember his liking for Bacardi and coke.

“He did a lot of charity work for St Richard’s Hospice and he would always help out someone who needed it.

“He was a very fun boss to work for and he is missed by everyone.”

Mr Radley was the second longest serving landlord in Droitwich, with around 250 people believed to have been at his funeral.

He had previously been the landlord at several other pubs across the West Midlands including at the Red Lion in Bradley Green, near Redditch and in Kings Norton.

His funeral took place on Monday April 23 at Redditch Crematorium with donations to St Richard’s Hospice and Tim’s Memorial.

Mr Radley who died on Sunday April 1 spent years turning the 18th century pub into a CAMRA pub and it has been nominated for a number of awards.