A TALENTED choir leader described by friends as a real gentleman has died of cancer aged 70.

Barry Jones, who died at St Richard's Hospice in Worcester on Monday, January 28, made many friends as musical director of the Worcester Male Voice Choir from 1996 to 2006.

"He was a man of many varied talents and his readiness to share them with those around him endeared him to all," said choir member Graham Blacket.

Born in Derby, the youngest son of a musical family, Mr Jones - who lived in Nightingale Avenue, Warndon Villages, Worcester, with his wife Tina - trained as a lawyer but gave up private practice to teach law at the Worcester College of Technology.

But it was his love of music - particularly singing - that saw him join Spa Harmony, a mixed choir in Droitwich, and later the Worcester Male Voice Choir, with whom he became a conductor.

His singing experience ranged from choral singing, opera, oratorios, madrigals and barbershop, to his favourite - the songs of Gilbert and Sullivan. He retired as conductor of the choir in 2006 but returned as a very able baritone at the beginning of 2007.

He leaves a wife, Tina, five children and six grandchildren. His funeral is at St Paul's Church, St Paul's Street, Worcester, at 1.30pm on Monday, February 11.