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.”
LIGHT: Last year s Malvern Rotary Tree of Light A POPULAR Malvern memorial campaign is returning this year, not to be stopped by the coronavirus crisis. The Rotary Club of Malvern’s annual Tree of Light is returning for its 17th year, with the names of loved ones being proudly displayed in the town. A spokesman said: “The Rotary Club of Malvern are pleased to announce that we will be organising the annual ‘Tree of Light’ remembrance ceremony this Christmas. “We will be lighting up a 100ft tree in Priory Park, Malvern and inviting you to sponsor a light in memory of someone who is dear to you, whether they are a family member who is no longer with us, or perhaps someone who has gone the extra mile to help and support you through the covid crisis.