MALVERN Rugby Club is mourning the death of stalwart member Peter Lewis, who has died at the age of 85.

Mr Lewis was the president of the Spring Lane-based club during one of its finest hours, when it won the Pilkington Shield at Twickenham in 1994.

His club colleague Peter Woods said: "It is with great sadness that I must report the death of Pete Lewis. Pete was an honorary life member of Malvern RFC and played as captain of the third team in the 1970s.

"Following his playing career, Pete took up the whistle, joining the Gloucestershire Refereeing Panel and refereeing around the south west.

"He then graduated to becoming an assessor, then a refereeing coach, and during our season in the South West he appeared on the touchline at several of Malvern's matches.

"Pete was club president during the very successful period when Malvern won the Pilkington Shield at Twickenham.

"Known for his dry sense of humour, Pete was a rugby man through and through, and will be missed by the rugby fraternity.

"At a recent Gloucester Rugby Football Union dinner, Pete was given a life-time achievement award in recognition of his services to the game."

Mr Lewis's funeral is at Worcester Crematorium, Tintern Avenue, Worcester, on Thursday, August 3, at 2.30pm.

His family has set up an online memorial page where friends and colleagues are invited to leave any messages and photos they wish, and to make donations to his chosen charities, the British Heart Foundation and Age UK.

The site is at memorials.co-operativefuneralcare.co.uk/memorial/12-07-2017-PeterStanley-Lewis.