FRIENDS and family have paid tribute to a former bailiff of the Bromsgrove Court Leet.

Michael Leonard Clements passed away on March 16, aged 86.

The well-respected Bromsgrovian has been described as a ‘loving family man, father and grandfather.’

Mike was born on February 22, 1935 where his family ran ‘Clements Brothers’, a signage and flag manufacturing company on the Kidderminster Road.

He was educated at Bromsgrove School and then went on to have a long career in sales and marketing with various metal suppliers including Gusums Bruk, Peter Crowe, Expressway Metals and McKecknie Limited.

Alongside his wife Jean, Mike was the joint owner and director of A G Barnes Flags Limited on the Sanders Industrial Estate and then Up the Pole Limited in Catshill.

Mike also served on the Bromsgrove Urban District Council in the 1960s.

Fred Clements, Mike's uncle, was elected bailiff of the Bromsgrove Court Leet in 1956 and introduced Mike to the court in the late 1970s. As a member of the Court Leet Jury Mike held the position of Ale Taster then was elected as reeve in 1986 and bailiff in 1987.

Outside work Mike was a member of many local organisations including the Bromsgrove Round Table, the 41 Club, the Boars and Royal Naval Association.

He also enjoyed sport and played rugby, cricket and hockey for Bromsgrove.

His wife, Jean, passed away in 2006.

Michael's daughter, Victoria Bradley, said he "will be missed and fondly remembered by all his family, friends, and those who had been connected with Mike through the many local organisations he gave his time and commitment to."