A DAUGHTER who tried in vain to save her dad's life on her birthday has paid tribute to the fun-loving skittles player.

Sheila Wood, who lived with her father, Frank Wood, discovered he was not breathing when she kissed him goodnight after her 49th birthday celebrations.

She dialled 999 and gave him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation before paramedics arrived at their Worcester home to treat him. But the 88-year-old had suffered a massive heart attack and died.

Miss Wood and her sister, Margaret Malin, had enjoyed a birthday meal with their 88-year-old dad and Mrs Malin's children at The Crown, in Hallow, on Monday, June 24.

After the meal, the family reminisced about the past before Mr Wood retired to bed.

"I went into my room then went back into his room to see him," said Miss Wood.

"I kissed him on his cheek and said goodnight. I realised he wasn't breathing, so I did mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and a heart start and rang the paramedics."

Miss Wood praised the paramedics, who she said did everything they could to save her father during the early hours of Tuesday.

"They were with him for 40 minutes," said Miss Wood, of Broadway Grove, St John's.

"They said he'd had a big heart attack, otherwise what I'd done would have saved him. My father will be remembered for always smiling."

Mr Wood, whose wife Jessie died in May last year, had only been in hospital once before, to be treated for a chest infection, and was a keen skittles player for 50 years.

An only child, he was born on October 4, 1913, and lived in Holly Mount Road, Tolladine, with his cousin, Fred Calloway.

"Like brothers"

"Fred's mum had died and his dad was killed in the war, so he lived with my dad. They were like brothers," said Mrs Malin.

Mr Wood lived in Holly Mount Road until married.

He and Jessie spent the rest of their lives in Broadway Grove.

Mr Wood worked as an office clerk at Alley MacLellan, Worcester, before seeing action with the Royal Signals in Singapore during the Second World War.

He then returned to England and continued working in the factory at Alley MacLellan.

In the 16 years before he retired, he worked at Heenan & Froude.

Mr Wood, who enjoyed cricket and football, played in the same skittles team for 50 years, first at The Bedwardine pub and later at Claines Royal British Legion and The Bell Inn, St John's.

"My father was captain of the team until three years ago.

"It was then that Don and Brian decided to name a trophy after him.

"Normally something like that would be in memory of someone, but dad was still playing right up until he died.

"My father was quiet, kind and a proper gentlemen - he'd do anything for anyone."

Mr Wood's funeral was due to be held at 12.15pm today at St Clement's Church, Henwick Road, St John's.