Mr Duckworth died aged 83 on Sunday, November 15, following a short battle with illness. His funeral was held earlier today, but before he was cremated in a private ceremony, the much-loved philanthropist made his final tour around the city. His procession began at Acorns Children’s Hospice in St Peter’s at 10.15am, where Mr Duckworth was a key backer of the hospice, helping them care for seriously ill children and their families. After hearing about the charity through a family friend, Mr Duckworth saw a need in the local area and helped establish Acorns in Bath Road in 2005. A crowd of Acorns staff, nurses and volunteers paid their respects as the procession moved along Bath Road, alongside a banner which read: “Thank you Cecil Duckworth CBE, from your Acorns family. Your vision and generosity made this Worcester children’s hospice possible.”