TRIBUTES have been paid to Wordsley Amateur Dramatic Society stalwart Bob Cotton who has died at the age of 90.

The much-loved amateur thespian and director, who had been a devoted member of the award-winning drama group for more than 50 years, passed away suddenly at his home in Kingswinford, on January 7.

Wordsley Amateur Dramatic Society chairman Andy Rock said: "He was the same age as the society .

"He was very involved in so many aspects of it and I've known him since I joined about 35 years ago.

"It's like the heart has gone out of the society.

"He was a super actor - he won so many awards and I always considered him a great personal friend, someone who gave us all so much advice and who has always been there for all of us.

"Bob was always encouraging us to go into competitions and have the highest standards - he had a great eye for detail."

Bob, who had been president of the critically-acclaimed group for the last few years, had won many awards for acting and directing.

One of his most acclaimed performances was as Arthur in The Winslow Boy and one of his favourite plays to have appeared in was The Kingfisher, staged in 1994.

The group's next outing Run For Your Wife, which will run from January 28 to 31 at Kingswinford's Stream Road Methodist Church, will be dedicated to his memory.

Andy Rock said: "Bob always really liked farce so it's a very appropriate play for him."

Together with wife Jean, Bob had been one of the driving forces behind the society and even in his advancing years he continued to direct and take to the stage - and would also help out backstage with sound effects.

Andy added: "He still liked to take an active part. He'd been in the 90th anniversary production and last appeared on stage for us at the beginning of October as the butler in Lady Windermere's Fan. He was very, very good."

Jean, who has been ticket secretary of WADS for many years, said performing was in Bob's blood and he "just liked everything about it". She added: "It went right back to Bob's grandfather who was an entertainer - and his father was a violinist."

Their daughter Sally was also a member of WADS for a while and their grand-daughter Sophie Turner, from Warwickshire, has become a familiar face on TV - appearing as Sansa Stark in hit show Game of Thrones.

Bob, who also had two grandsons James and William, was also a member of Dudley Little Theatre for a few years.

His funeral will be held at Gornal Wood Crematorium on Monday February 2 at 2.10pm, followed by a service at Stream Road Methodist Church, Kingswinford, at 3pm.