A former Express & Star commissionaire who found love after moving into a sheltered housing project in South Staffordshire has died aged 84.

Bilston-born Frank Payton, one of 11 siblings, worked at the paper’s Queen Street office for 12 years but was forced to retire early after a stroke.

He met Ivy, now 86, at Moor Court in Coven where he had an apartment, directly across the road from her bungalow. She said: “I washed his shirts and cooked his dinners – people said you may as well get married.”

Mr Payton, who went to Red Cross Street School in Bilston, worked at Elliotts funeral directors at Chapel Ash after returning from the war. He worked for the Express & Star from 1977 until 1988.

Over the years he lost contact with many of his siblings but in 1984 he was reunited with a younger brother whom he had not seen for 23 years.

Ron Payton, an undertaker in south-east London, walked into the the Express & Star office where Frank was then working after their sister Grace Hickman tracked him down.

They had a party at Woodcross Working Men’s Club in Coseley, owned by another brother, Barry.

Sister Pearl Bagley, 71, of Fordhouses, said: “There was such a great age gap between the oldest and youngest – 27 years – that inevitably we lost touch.

“I was just a little girl when he went off to war and our sister Shirley, who is now 61, wasn’t even born.”

Mr Payton’s marriage to Ivy Brinde 12 years ago brought many of the siblings back together.

Mr Payton, who has two sons from a previous marriage, was a treasurer at Moor Court. She said: “He had a great sense of humour. Although he was ill for most of our married life, I have no regrets.”

His funeral will be held at 9.30am next Friday at West Chapel, Bushbury.