Father dies days after diagnosis

A popular rugby-obsessed father has died just days after learning he had cancer.

Andy Freeth, aged 50, was a lifelong member of Wolverhampton Rugby Club and had worked at Goodyear as an engineer for 32 years.

He had been complaining of tiredness and an aching back and was admitted to New Cross Hospital for tests on November 19.

The results showed he had cancerous cells in his lungs and that the disease had spread. Sadly it was too late for doctors to save him and he died on Tuesday.

His wife Diane, 17-year-old son Stewart, and some of his closest friends from the rugby club and Goodyear were by his side as he slipped away.

Mrs Freeth said he was his typical strong self right up until the end. The couple had been together for 29 years. She said: "Even when he was very poorly he was sitting up in bed and talking. The night before he died, he told Stewart he loved him."

Mr Freeth's death has devastated the rugby community of Wolverhampton, where he was well-known because of his commitment to the Castlecroft club from a young age.

Mr Freeth attended Northicote School in Bushbury. Most recently he was assistant coach for the club's youth teams. He was also a keen golfer. He began working at Goodyear at 18 and worked right up until the day he was admitted to hospital.

Mr Freeth's funeral will take place on December 19 at Bushbury Crematorium at 2.30pm, then Wolverhampton Rugby Club.