A VILLAGE has paid tribute to a dog trainer who won awards all around the world after he died battling cancer.

John Westwood was a dedicated member of Stoke Lacy village hall, near Bromyard, and the chair has said he will be greatly missed by the trustees.

Village hall chair Janet Ivison said in the parish magazine: “It was with great sadness that Stoke Lacy learned of the death of John Westwood on January 17, another of our village stalwarts.

“John had been diagnosed with tumours on the brain a while ago, but he managed this very well with medication and regular trips to the QE [hospital] in Birmingham.”

Mr Westwood and his wife Alma moved to Stoke Lacy in 2005, and Mrs Ivison said it “didn’t take them long to get themselves involved with village life”.

He was also a former parish councillor whose building knowledge “came in very handy”.

Mrs Ivison, also chair of the parish council, added: “John’s greatest love was his German shepherds and dog agility where, through his patience and training he won several awards, of which he was very proud.

“It also took them all over the country and into Europe, where a good many friends were made.”

“John was a man of few words but with a lovely sense of humour when you got to know him.

“Our sincere condolences go to Alma and all the family at this very sad time.”

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