Cyril Wood had more excuses than most to forget family birthdays – with a roll call of more than 150 children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

But despite the enormous task of remembering all of their birthdays, the 81-year-old never failed to buy something for each of them, no matter how small the gift. Mr Wood died this month following a long battle with cancer.

He had a prodigious memory for dates and dedicated each birthday to memory with every new arrival to his ever-expanding family.

And whether it was his eldest child or youngest great-great-grandchild, he always had the time to spend with his “pride and joy”.

Read the full story in the Express & Star. 

Cyril Wood had more excuses than most to forget family birthdays – with a roll call of more than 150 children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

But despite the enormous task of remembering all of their birthdays, the 81-year-old never failed to buy something for each of them, no matter how small the gift. Mr Wood died this month following a long battle with cancer.

He had a prodigious memory for dates and dedicated each birthday to memory with every new arrival to his ever-expanding family.

And whether it was his eldest child or youngest great-great-grandchild, he always had the time to spend with his “pride and joy”.

The retired grave digger, lorry driver and security guard was so devoted to his family he couldn’t even face telling them he was ill, playing cards and dominoes with two of his sons right up until two weeks before his death and choosing to die at his youngest son’s home in Linwood Road, rather than go through the ordeal of treatment at hospital.

Four generations of his family will pack into St Francis’ Church, in Laurel Road, Dudley, tomorrow to pay tribute to the head of what could be the Black Country’s largest family.

Mr Wood, who had also lived in Laurel Road and Wrens Hill Road, married Ria in 1945 and the couple had eight children before divorcing in 1980. His children had 44 children of their own and the family has continued to go from strength to strength ever since.

Mr Wood’s youngest son, Martin, aged 40, described his father as a “family man” who “always had time for everyone”.

“He was Dudley born and bred and lived on the Priory estate all of his life,” he said.

“He loved to go for rides in the countryside in his car and used to play the harmonica and concertina in his younger days. Even when he was older, he loved to have a sing-a-long and loved getting on the karaoke when he would sing Danny Boy.”