IT will be with a heavy heart that the outgoing chief executive will leave Acorns Children's Hospice for the final time on Friday.

Just days shy of reaching his 10 year anniversary at the charity, which has its headquarters in Wythall, David Studley said it had been a decade of incredible highs as well as a fair share of challenges.

He will be passing the mantle on to Toby Porter, previously the chief executive of HelpAge International.

Mr Strudley said his departure was "with a heavy heart".

"I was trying to explain to some friends, I think the thing is this is my life," he said.

"I have been a soldier and a bit of a nomad and this was the first time I worked and lived in the same place with the most wonderful people too.

"There's something very, very special about Acorns, the fact we look after so many terribly poorly children and families who are reaching the end of their tether. It's so humbling.

"I've become completely caught up in it all so it is going to leave a void which will be incredibly hard to fill."

Mr Strudley was a soldier for 35 years and, in his last role with the forces, was chief of staff in Northern Ireland towards the end of The Troubles.

He helped the Royal Ulster Constabulary to change into the police force and set up an organisation for people leaving the forces to become civilians.

One of the tasks was looking after children who were also badly affected by The Troubles.

"I knew straightaway that I wanted to spend the rest of my life working in children's hospices," he said.

"I got to know my predecessor John Overton at Acorns very well and he put me forward and I was lucky enough to be leading the best children's hospice not only in the UK but, I believe, in the world.

"The day I arrived here was the best day of my life and every day since, there has never been a day where I haven't felt that way."

He added: "It has been the greatest privilege in life. It would be wrong in a way to try and pick out moments but I can say that every single time someone comes out of the blue and gives us support - whether that is funding or extra things as part of the community - it feels like a highlight.

"People have been unbelievably kind."

He thanked the community in the West Midlands for supporting its three hospices.

He now plans to write a book about his experiences with hospices which he hopes to release in 2018, in time for Acorns' 30th anniversary.