TRIBUTES have been paid to Michael Brinton, the Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire, who died on Monday.

Mr Brinton had served as Lord Lieutenant, or the Queen’s representative in the county, since 2001.

He died peacefully, aged 70, with his wife Angela by his side at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham after a yearlong fight against cancer.

As well as the Queen’s man, Mr Brinton was also the chairman of the world-famous Kidderminster carpet firm Brintons which was founded by his great, great, great grandfather William Brinton in 1783.

His son Julian Brinton, speaking on behalf of Mrs Brinton, daughter Birdie and son Algy, said: “We are all devastated and he will be sorely missed.

We all adored him. He was very much a family man and a brilliant grandfather to five grandchildren.

“My inbox has been heaving with messages from every member of the carpet industry and local area writing to say what a wonderful chap he was and what a gentleman of the industry he was.”

Mr Brinton became High Sheriff of Hereford and Worcester in 1990/91 and Deputy Lieutenant in 1991 – following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

He was given the Order of St John in 2001 and the Knight of St John in 2002 for his service to St John Ambulance.

The Queen awarded him the Commander of the Royal Victorian Order for his personal service in January 2012 as part of the New Year’s honours.