MORE than 600 family, friends and associates of Worcester businessman and benefactor Peter Underwood packed into the city's Cathedral for a service of celebration and thanksgiving for his life yesterday.

Mr Underwood, who died on April 21 after a short battle against cancer, was one of the leading figures in Worcester life.

Chairman of the Underwood Group of Companies, a family business with roots stretching back 150 years, he had actually planned the thanksgiving service himself.

The Eulogy was given by family friend, Worcester solicitor Bill Stallard, who said, "There have been many tributes to Peter since the devastating news of his death, but none more eloquent or poignant than the presence in the Cathedral of such a large body of the community, representing the many facets of his life and of the loyalty and dedication which characterised his love of his family, friends, his business colleagues and the wider world.

"His contributions to local education, charities, service clubs, the Magistracy and the world of commerce were immense."