A former mayor and Honorary Alderman of Sandwell has died aged 90.

Jack Williams was also the British Legion Poppy Day Appeal Organiser for the area for 26 years from 1959, helping to raise many thousands of pounds for the cause. He died at Sandwell Hospital on December 21. His funeral will be held at January 12 at 2.30pm at All Saints Old Church, All Saints Way, West Bromwich.

The former magistrate of Beeches Road, West Bromwich, was educated at West Bromwich Grammar School and growing up was a keen sportsman, playing cricket for West Bromwich Dartmouth as a batsman and spin bowler.

During the Second World War he served in the Royal Air Force in England, France, and Belgium.

He was secretary of the Birmingham and District Cricket league for many years serving on the advisory committee and later as president.

A keen West Bromwich Albion supporter and shareholder, he enjoyed cricket in the summer and football in the winter.

His many other interests included West Bromwich Rotary Club and was a prominent member of Freemasonry in the County of Staffordshire.

Mr Williams was a councillor for 26 years and represented the Charlemont ward on Sandwell Council until his retirement in 1988, aged 68.

He served on the former West Bromwich Council where he was chairman of baths and estates for several years and was mayor of the town in 1971 to 72.

He had three children Ted, John and Joyce and was married to Agnes who died five years ago.

Mrs Williams, who had served as mayoress between 1970 and 71 with her husband, died in 2004 after suffering from a chest infection.

Mrs Williams had been elected twice in the past as president of West Bromwich Inner Wheel, the club which was attended by wives of the members of West Bromwich Rotary Club.

The couple first met while serving in the airforce in Mons, Belgium. Mrs Williams, who was born in Lanarkshire, Scotland, had been a shorthand typist. They married soon afterwards.

She became a full-time housewife and when Mr Williams became mayor in 1970 the couple carried out official engagements all over the UK representing Sandwell.

Son Ted, aged 63, of Aldridge, said: “He was very well liked. His death was all rather sudden. He had been taken ill with an infection in the base of his spine and had gone into Sandwell Hospital for about two to three weeks. He lived a full life.”