TRIBUTES have been paid to a Stourbridge church stalwart.

Vicky Waugh, church warden and a popular member of the congregation at St Thomas's Church died on December 23 after suffering major organ failure.

The 71-year-old from Chawn Park Drive, Pedmore, had worked hard to maintain services at the Market Street church which has not had a permanent priest since the departure of Rev Ron Curtis in 2012.

Fellow church warden Wendy Hemming said: "Vicky was a very local servant to St Thomas's - as a church warden. She was very much loved and respected by the congregation and we shall miss her very much."

Miss Waugh had followed in the footsteps of her late father Don - who was also a St Thomas's church warden.

She had also been president of the WI in Pedmore for the last ten years and for a number of years she was division commissioner for Girlguiding in Stourbridge and Halesowen, a county adviser for Worcestershire Girlguiding.

More recently she enjoyed belonging to the Trefoil Guild for former guides in Stourbridge. Moose International was another organisation close to her heart, and she was secretary to Quinton Manor Ladies Circle.

She also worked part-time as company secretary for Midlands Training Ltd based in St John's Road in Stourbridge - a post she took on after working for many years as PA to the regional manager at Legal and General in Birmingham.

Jennifer Price, managing director of Midlands Training Ltd and Miss Waugh's cousin, said: "She was full of fun. She loved to chat to people and enjoyed working. She also enjoyed holidays to the Greek islands and was a member of the Gilbert and Sullivan Society in Stourbridge and the Methodist Singers. She was very popular, without a doubt. She was probably working as hard on all her voluntary things after she retired as she did when she went into Birmingham every day."

Her funeral will be conducted by Archdeacon Nikki Groake and will be held at St Thomas' Church, Market Street, Stourbridge, tomorrow (Tuesday January 13) at 12.30m.

Donations in her memory will go to the St Thomas' Appeal Fund and can be made to funeral directors H. Porter & Sons, Old Church House, 60 South Road, Stourbridge, DY8 3UJ.