Hundreds to remember Belbroughton builder after Covid delay

Barry Smith was described as having a "huge personality" by his daughter

Hundreds of people will finally be able to pay tribute to a builder three years after his death during the pandemic.

Barry Smith, 62, from Worcestershire, died from a brain tumour in February 2021, a year after he was diagnosed.

On Friday, his wife and daughters will host a festival fundraiser at the Talbot pub, in Belbroughton, near Bromsgrove, hoping to raise money for Brain Tumour Research.

"Dad was a huge personality but became a shadow of himself," Lydia Smith said.

"When he died, during lockdown restrictions, we received a huge outpouring of love.

"We knew that when the time was right, we wanted to do something so everybody whose life he touched, has a chance to celebrate him.".

As Mr Smith died in lockdown, the family said they were not able to give him a proper send off at the time.

People expected at the event include his clients, friends, family and colleagues, they added.

Mr Smith's family have already raised £7,000 for Brain Tumour Research

Mr Smith was a builder for four decades and in that time he also survived a heart attack and encephalitis, a potentially life-threatening swelling of the brain.

He had an operation followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment but his family said his brain tumour continued to grow and affected his mobility.

His daughter said, throughout the time, they made him as comfortable as possible and he even made a few trips to the pub.

"Watching dad change in front of our eyes was horrible. I would have given one of my limbs to save him," she added.

"Instead, we face a future without him being around to watch me and my sister get married and have a family of our own."

Ms Smith, alongside her mother Jacqui and sister Lorna, have already raised £7,000 for the charity.