The Walsall family of a former BBC foreign correspondent who rose through the ranks of the World Health Organisation today paid tribute to him, following his death from a brain haemorrhage.

Christopher Powell suffered a massive haemorrhage while delivering a lecture in Tunis and died two days later, leaving widow Jan and three children Abigail, George and Hugo. The 57-year-old, originally of Brownhills, served with WHO for 16 years and was senior communication officer for the Family and Community Health Cluster.

He previously worked as a television producer and Geneva foreign correspondent for the BBC and had lived in the city for 28 years.

Mr Powell, the youngest of six children, attended the former Shire Oak Grammar School before studying for a degree at Durham University and then at The Cardiff School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies.

His work for WHO centred on managing major epidemics and took him to countries including China during the SARS outbreak.

His funeral was held in a small church in his adopted home city on April 21 and almost 600 mourners turned out, causing a queue to form in the street outside.

His brother Vic Powell, of Little Haywood, near Shugborough Estate in Staffordshire, said the attendance was testament to the regard in which his youngest sibling, an active member of Geneva Amateur Operatic Society, was held.

“It was amazing at the church, we all went over for the funeral and a small choir sang some of the songs Chris did. His two sons played a song for him. They were very brave.”

Mr Powell said the family was incredibly proud of his achievements and added: “He led a successful academic and professional life as well as having a family of his own.”

Mr Powell, who died on April 11 was also a Royal Navy reservist.