Tributes paid to Lord Lieutenant of county (From Cotswold Journal)

Tributes paid to Lord Lieutenant of county

5:00pm Saturday 15th September 2012 in News

HUNDREDS of dignitaries filled Worcester Cathedral on Friday to pay their respects to Michael Brinton, the Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire.

The memorial service was held to remember the Queen’s representative in the county after his death in April following a yearlong battle with cancer.

Mr Brinton, who had served as Lord Lieutenant since 2001, was described in a reading by friend Robert Smyly as “a wonderful man and wonderful friend”.

Mr Smyly spoke of Mr Brinton’s life, referring to his time at Eton, studying in Aix-en-Provence, France, Perugia, Italy, and Vienna.

He also spoke of his role as chairman of Brinton’s, the world-renowed Kidderminster carpet firm founded by his great-grandfather William Brinton in 1783.

He said: “I have seen some of the many hundreds of letters of sympathy Angela has received from across the world, including those from the royal family. What shone out of them all was the warmth of Michael’s smile.

“Michael was a wonderful man and friend to us all. But above all he was a devoted father and grandfather.

I hope you will remember him and smile a lot as he smiled for us.”

Alongside Mr Brinton’s wife Angela, their three children and five grandchildren, was Worcester MP Robin Walker and Lord Faulkner and guests representing the royal family. These included Sir Thomas Dunne, who represented the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh; Mrs William Nunneley, LVO, as representative for the Princess Royal; Professor David Green, attending in place of the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester; the Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire Algernon Heber- Percy, for the Duke of Kent; and Lady Dunne representing Princess Alexandra, the Hon Lady Ogilvy.

Mr Brinton’s three children, Julian, Birdie and Algy gave readings at the memorial alongside the address by Mr Smyly and another by the Bishop of Worcester, Dr John Inge.

Dr Inge said: “I feel privileged to be able to say a few words. His life will have touched each of us in many different ways. Michael lived life to the full. He was a sophisticated man.

He wore his experience lightly, because, above all, he was a gentleman.”

Mr Brinton’s successor as Lord Lieutenant has not yet been announced.