TRIBUTES have been paid to a well-known figure in the Halesowen church community, who taught thousands of children over fifty years.

Leslie Hardwick passed away on April 14, aged 90-years-old.

The father of six was an integral member of community in Halesowen, through his work with the Hasbury Christian Fellowship.

He will be remembered by generations of children in Halesowen as the leader of the Thursday Special children meetings which he ran from 1955 for over 50 years, before his daughter Joy Howell took over.

Paying tribute to her much-loved father, Joy said: "As the youngest in a large family I soon learnt that I could not be anonymous in Halesowen – I was regularly referred to, and still am, as 'Leslie Hardwick’s daughter'. Dad was respected, admired and loved by so many people locally and further afield.

"As we were growing up he was always a busy dad but in recent years he has expressed his pride in all of us to many people. He will leave a huge hole in the lives of his six children, 13 grandchildren and a growing number of great-grandchildren."

Mr Hardwick was also a familiar face at Halesowen Church of England Primary School where he volunteered to lead the weekly assembly for over 20 years, alongside running a Sunday school class.

He also worked closely to support older people in the community through the church by running a monthly lunch club, a Thursday afternoon social group and 'Treble 20s' which saw Mr Hardwick collecting staff and residents in a minibus from Woodview care home, to take them to lunch club or shopping.

Mr Hardwick also regularly preached outdoors in Halesowen town centre on Good Friday and at Christmas through his work with Churches Together.

Born in Smethwick, Mr Hardwick moved to Halesowen in 1955 with his late wife Ruth and for many years was recognised as the leader of the Hasbury Christian Fellowship, previously known as Gospel Hall. He served as a preacher and bible teacher, alongside his work as a carpenter and builder.

A funeral service for Mr Hardwick will be held on Thursday May 9 at 12.45pm at Hasbury Christian Fellowship, followed by a burial service at Quinton Cemetery at 2.30pm and the refreshments back at Hasbury Christian Fellowship.

Donations in lieu of flowers will be spilt between Birmingham City Mission and Rachel Newby, a Christian Medical Missionary in the Democratic Republic of Congo.