Worcester's Radio Wyvern presenter Paul Fairclough remembers Paul O'Grady and his larger-than-life charitable personality in this week's Worcester News column.

Hi this is Paul Fairclough your Sunday morning breakfast host at Radio Wyvern.

I’ve been asked to write this week about one of my favourite people that I have interviewed over the years, the late Paul O’Grady who passed away this week.

I was lucky to have a number of interviews with Paul for various shows, the first him in pantomime as Lily Savage became wicked queen in Snow White.

Paul had everyone laughing at the press launch talking about how much he hated panto but in the interview said it was a far cry from his first job in the civil service working for the DHSS.

He also worked as an assistant clerk at Liverpool Magistrates' Court yet it was three years at a children's convalescent home and school in West Kirby on Merseyside working with disabled and abused children that he treasured the most.

He said his bosses used to tell him off for paying for things for families and the kids as he couldn’t see them suffer.

Paul’s charity work to the most part went unnoticed not only for humans but his love of animals too. I was on another interview at the end of Blackpool North Pier sat with him and his beloved first dog Buster who was only a year old and they were inseparable to the very end.

As Lily Savage he could be brutally wicked with people and say things he would never get away with.

Whether as a panto wicked queen or in his own live show, the last thing you wanted to do would be arrive late, as trying to find your seats Lily would abuse you for not being on time! Sharp, wicked, hilarious, are just a few words to describe Paul.

I remember taking my Auntie Margaret to see him in Prisoner Cell Block H and the tears rolling down her cheeks with laughter, but for me it was in the role of the orphanage head Miss Hannigan in the musical Annie that I think he really excelled and indeed it was role he was playing only a couple of days before his passing.

My thoughts go to his family and friends; they have lost a loving caring human with a heart of gold.

You can listen to the NEW Wyvern on 106.7FM, DAB Digital Radio, on the Wyvern App and on any Alexa by saying "Alexa play Radio Wyvern".