A much-loved pub landlord described as the most respected man in Blackheath has died, aged 70.

Ken Platt, Banks’s brewery’s longest serving publican, worked behind the bars at a number of pubs around Rowley Regis and Dudley during his 40 year career.

Starting out as a milkman delivering to homes around Halesowen in the early 1960s he moved into the pub trade in 1965 at the helm of the Bird in Hand, in Chapel Street, Netherton.

After three years service there he moved on to The Vine in Blackheath High Street for 18 years before finishing up at The Little Beech Tree just around the corner in Halesowen Street.

Mr Platt, who lived at The Heathlands in Rowley Regis, with his wife Maureen, died on Monday morning at Dudley’s Russells Hall Hospital. He had been suffering from bowel cancer for the past 18 months. His daughter Sharon Poole today described her father as a “forgiving and kind man” who had hundreds of friends.

“He was the most respected man in Blackheath by people of all ages,” she said.

“People who had been banned from every other pub in the area would be allowed into my dad’s because he would never hold a grudge.”

Sharon, aged 41, from Midhill Drive, Rowley Regis, added: “One story I heard was that one of his customer’s wife went into labour and he banged on the door of the pub after it was closed and asked for £10 so he could put some petrol in the car to take her to hospital. Dad ended up giving him £250 and said to spend it on the baby.”

Sharon said he was so upset when one of his regulars died and had no family to organise a funeral that he stepped in to help.

Mr Platt, known to his regulars as ‘Platty’ left the Bird In Hand pub after only three years after an accident saw his two-year-old son David killed just outside the premises.

He and Maureen left the business because it “held to many memories”, according to Sharon, and then began their tenure at The Vine.

Sharon, an office worker, added: “I’ve had grown men crying to me saying they can’t believe he has gone.”

He leaves his wife Maureen, 65, daughters Sharon and Linda, and five grandchildren.

Mr Platt’s funeral will take place on November 26 at Powke Lane Crematorium at 1.45pm, with a reception at the liberal club in John Street.