TRIBUTES have been paid to "the original maverick" who died suddenly at his home, aged 50.

David Cox-Harmsworth - a descendant of the great Harmsworth brothers who launched the Daily Mail - passed away at his Barbourne home on Thursday, October 7, after suffering an illness.

Mr Cox-Harmsworth, son of Josephine Harmsworth and the late Charles Okechukwu Nwokedi of Achalla, Nigeria, was born on March 9, 1954.

He was half-Nigerian and his father belonged to an eminent Nigerian family. His uncle was chairman of the Law Reform Commission.

His mother's father, Chamberlain Michael Hildebrand Harmsworth, was a godson of educational reformer Sir Joseph Chamberlain.

Although Mr Cox-Harmsworth was born in Britain, he grew up in Uganda, where he stayed until he was forced to flee from Idi Amin's troops in 1973.

"He was a firm believer in the rights of the common man and that would clash with the authorities when President Amin was in power," said his mother, Mrs Harmsworth.

"He was always a character and, being a character, he got arrested.

"As with most of these things over there, someone wants your job or girlfriend so they report you as a saboteur and then you get arrested.

"One time, he was in the main hotel in Kampala with a girl that some Army man wanted, and they decided to arrest him and take him to Amin's prison.

"He managed to escape by cocking a snook at security."

He began suffering stress-related headaches so decided to leave Uganda for England.

"He and his friend fled across the border in a Mini while being chased by people with guns - if he'd had to stop at the border, he wouldn't have made it," said his partner Belinda Knight.

He studied motor vehicle technology and management practice at Exeter University and worked at CarnaudMetalBox, in Worcester, for 16 years until shortly before his death.

He married Arlette and they had two sons, Charlie and Harry, aged 10 and eight, although the couple later divorced.

A battle ensued over access to the children, sparking his support for the Fathers4Justice campaigners.

"It was a very expensive, terrible battle and very traumatic for him," said Mrs Harmsworth, who has invited anyone who wishes to do so to make a donation to Fathers4Justice.

"He formed the Mavericks' Clan, where he would take pictures of his friends wearing his baseball cap and Ray-Bans," said Ms Knight.

"He was a lovely man and he'll be missed by everyone who knew him."

A funeral service will take place at St George's Roman Catholic Church on Tuesday, October 26, at 12 noon, followed by interment at Astwood Cemetery.