A MEMORIAL service for the Rev Thomas Richards, a former curate at St John's Church, and chaplain at Bromsgrove School, will be held next month.

Always a colourful and outspoken character in church life in the county, he died, aged 96, suddenly while on holiday in Cornwall.

He was the oldest retired clergyman in the Worcester diocese and the oldest chaplain in the British Army.

He was ordained in 1934 and for the next four years was curate at St John's Parish Church.

Later he joined the armed forces as a chaplain and during World War Two was mentioned in dispatches in 1934.

The following year he won the Military Cross.

A proud Welshman, Mr Richards had three main passions in life.

They were the Church, rugby and Worcestershire County Cricket Club.

On one occasion he ducked out of attending the induction of a new Bishop in Worcester Cathedral in order to watch Wales play at Cardiff Arms Park.

Sadly for him the TV cameras spotted him in the crowd and was severely censured by the church authorities.

After the war Mr Richards, who lived at Berrow Hill, Feckenham, served at Astwood Bank, Crabbs Cross and Worcester.

The thanksgiving service will be held at Bromsgrove School Chapel at 2.30pm on Thursday, January 11.