MORE than £700 has been handed over to Mary Stevens Hospice in memory of a Stourbridge Rotary Club stalwart who held every position except chairman.

Keith Henwood, who passed away at Avondale care home in Norton, aged 91, on October 16, had been a long-serving member of Stourbridge Rotary Club having served on the committee in a variety of roles over the 31 years that he was a member.

He was also honorary treasurer at Stourbridge's Mary Stevens Hospice for 10 years in the early days of its existence so donations made at his funeral, held at Rowley Regis Crematorium on October 29, were pledged to the hospice where his son Simon is now head of finance.

Simon told the News: "Keith was honorary treasurer at the hospice for well over a decade and served with the original trustee board, together with the first chairman Brian Marshall.

"During that time he kept a tight reign on the finances and saw the hospice through its difficult teething phases in setting up the in-patient residential unit and hospice day care facility, opened by HRH Princess Diana in 1991. He will always be remembered at the hospice fondly as the kind, honest gentleman that he was."

A total of £715 has now been handed over to the Oldswinford based charity, which has annual running costs of around £3million, and a further donation of £500 from Keith's will is to be made.

Stourbridge Rotary Club also made a donation to the charity in memory of Keith, who president Julia Savage said "was a great a asset to the club and its work and is much missed".

She added: "As members of the club were so instrumental in the creation of the hospice 30 years ago and have been involved ever since, including several as trustees, it has become a tradition to mark the passing of a member in that way."

She praised Keith's contribution to Rotary - describing him as "always very glad to help out and offer support when needed" and she added: "We normally raise around £20,000 each year for local charities working in this country and abroad - and Keith was a part of that effort."

Keith was also involved with Stourbridge Institute and was a member of Stourbridge Old Edwardians Club for old boys and girls of King Edward Grammar School and sixth form college.

During his working life he ran an accounting practice, Stirlings, with his business partner Ray Wharton in Hagley Road, after serving in the British Army’s educational corps.

He also spent many years as business director at Cannings in Sedgley.

Outside of work he loved music and played in a swing band.

His widow Audree Henwood said: “He was into music in a big way. It was his passion. He loved jazz, Frank Sinatra, classical music and he played he piano.”

He had suffered with dementia for the last few years and after a number of falls moved into Avondale care home which his wife of 60 years said had been “absolutely wonderful” to him.

She said staff at the home had “gone over and above” and although she had been unable to visit during lockdown she was able to spend time with him shortly before he passed away.

As well as his wife and son, Mr Henwood is survived by granddaughters Alex and Beth and his sister Vilma.

His brother Ken, who was a former Mayor of Stourbridge, passed away in 2004.