Tributes paid to landlord Malcolm Anslow, 67

Popular Black Country pub landlord Malcolm Anslow has died, aged 67, after a four-year fight against cancer.

Mr Anslow, of Stickley Lane, Gornal, kept pubs in Dudley and Walsall over a total of 30 years and previously worked as a barman in Wolverhampton, Wednesbury and Willenhall.

His wife today paid tribute to him as a "perfect husband with a great personality who was immaculately dressed."

Mrs Jan Anslow, aged 64, said: "He was a very welcoming landlord and enjoyed having a drink with our customers, as well as playing darts and dominoes for the teams. He was a perfect gentleman and had put up a very brave fight against cancer."

Mr Anslow, who died last Tuesday, retired from the Five Ways pub in Himley Road, Gornal, Dudley, two years ago, having being diagnosed with melanoma in his eye and liver two years earlier.

He and Mrs Anslow, who would have celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary next month, previously ran the Painters Arms in Avenue Road, Coseley, and before that the Duke of Wellington in Birmingham Street, Walsall.

Before going into the pub trade he was, for many years, a steel roller for British Steel at Bilston.

He and his wife used to work at weekends behind bars at the Ashmore Park, Wednesfield, The Varsity, Wolverhampton, the Old Blue Ball, Wednesbury, and the Chamberlain Club, Willenhall. "We enjoyed it so much we decided to keep a pub ourselves," said Mrs Anslow.

The couple have a son, Darren, aged 39, daughter-in-law Jodie, 24, and two grandchildren, Dane, aged 16 months and Summa, four.

Mr Anslow died at Compton Hospice, Wolverhampton.

Mrs Anslow is asking for donations instead of flowers for the charity at the funeral, which will take place on Friday at 2.50pm at Gornal Wood Crematorium.