Former councillor Geoff Southall's funeral set for Thursday April 13

Geoff, aged 80, who was a Conservative councillor for Wordsley for many years, died on Monday April 3 after a long battle with cancer.

Tributes were paid in the council chamber at Dudley Council House on Monday night for the much-loved community stalwart – a retired football referee who was a founding member of the old Wordsley Carnival and a former chairman of Dudley South Conservatives.

Councillor Patrick Harley, leader of Dudley Conservatives, said: “Geoff Southall was a community councillor many years before the term community councillor became a fashionable thing to say.

“He worked hard in Wordsley for many, many years.”

He said Geoff was “great fun on the campaign trail” but added: “He wasn’t a party political animal like some of us in the chamber – he just wanted to represent the local community that he loved and he did that to the best of his ability.

“He would be very critical of political hierarchy, local or national, if he thought they were doing a disservice.

“He was an old fashioned gentleman but he was a gentleman in a true sense.

Cllr Harley also praised Geoff’s “fantastic sense of humour” – adding: “If you upset Geoff he’d come back at you with his very dry sense of humour but nobody took offence such was his charm and very dry sense of wit.”

He went on: “His defeat at the polls in 2012 affected him quite badly – he thought he’d let the people of Wordsley down and that’s why they’d voted him out.

“But the effect of national politics can be quite cruel and it was extremely cruel to Geoff.

“He’ll be missed by family, friends and colleagues alike.”

Councillor Les Jones, former leader of the council, said: “Geoff was a friend to many both inside and outside the council. He was a very loyal, honourable man and he did care about his community.

“When he retired was the only time he was prepared to get involved in politics so he could give the most to his community.

“For his straight, no holds-barred approach – he earned the respect of many. He was first and foremost a Wordsley community man and for that reason he’ll be sadly missed.”

Wordsley councillor Matt Rogers said: “It was very sad news to hear of Geoff’s passing. He never stopped doing his best for Wordsley.”

Geoff’s funeral will take place at Holy Trinity Church in Wordsley High Street on Maundy Thursday, April 13, at 2pm, followed by cremation at Stourbridge Crematorium at 2.50pm.