TRIBUTES have been paid to a much-loved former chairman of a sporting league who has died at the age of 68 after contracting coronavirus.

Val Gardiner headed the Malvern Ladies Skittles League for over 30 years and was a popular character within the skittling community.

A miner’s daughter, she travelled to Malvern from Wales at the age of 16 to work at the local colleges. She met her husband, Derek, and settled in Malvern, where they were due to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary this year.

She started playing skittles almost 40 years ago at The Fir Tree Inn and following several moves around the local alleys, she finally settled at The Anchor Inn with her aptly named team 'The Wanderers'.

Val also played within the Worcester Skittles Leagues with her team The Brewbelles.

Val was diagnosed with leukaemia shortly after Christmas and an aggressive set of chemotherapy sessions quickly followed.

It was during her second session that Val contracted coronavirus and lost her battle to survive on April 16 at Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

Sue Waugh, president of the Malvern Skittles League, paid tribute to Val.

“Val will be deeply missed by her skittles family and far beyond," she said.

"Condolences go out to her family who were her world.

“Gratitude and thanks are also to be passed onto the team of doctors and nurses who fought so fearlessly to try and save her life.”

Malvern mayor Neil Morton said: “It’s sad to hear of Val’s passing, of someone who contributed so much to the cultural life of the town and for her to die in such circumstances is very sad indeed.”

Val was a cherished mother to her children, Paula and Philip, and a dearly loved grandmother to her three grandchildren.