THE ashes of a man who grew up in the shadow of Worcester Cathedral and sang in the voluntary choir for 70 years will be laid to rest in the cloisters of the building he loved so much.

Derrick Bollen, who died aged 89 on Sunday, May 27, knew every nook and cranny of the cathedral and took enormous pride and pleasure in showing people around it.

Mr Bollen worked for the Co-op in Worcester for 50 years and was catering manager from 1950 to 1980. He was extremely well-known in the city and surrounding area for organising hundreds of wedding receptions, Christmas dinners, children's parties, police and hunt balls.

He also ran the Worcester Cathedral Voluntary Choir, was a cathedral guide and published two books of memoirs - the first about growing up in the shadow of the cathedral and the second about his days in the Army and working at Worcester Co-op.

His wife Connie said: "He knew every nook and cranny of the cathedral. He joined the choir when he was eight and sang in it for 70 years."

She said in 1982 he left instructions with the dean about the arrangements for his funeral service and each subsequent dean had promised to fulfil his wishes.

A funeral service will be held at Worcester Cathedral tomorrow at 11am followed by a private cremation. Mrs Bollen said about 250 people were expected to attend.