TRIBUTES have been paid to a ’remarkable’ man of the Forest who passed away this week.

Maurice Bent, who was born in Ruardean, was well known as an author, campaigner and was a Queen’s Verderer.

Initially trained as a carpenter at Northern United Colliery he was also a keen church organist and became internationally known as an organ restorer and founded The Royal Forest of Dean Organ Society. As a churchman he was a Deacon and a one-time President of the Gloucester Sunday School Union. He was the principal founder and President of the Herbert Howells Society which commemorates the life and music of the Lydney-born composer and encourages young musicians from the Forest via competitions and bursaries.

Within the Forest he was a primary campaigner in the successful efforts to retain the Dilke Memorial Hospital and in keeping the Forest in public ownership, along with being a leading supporter for the restoration of the Wilderness Teaching Centre at Mitcheldean. He was instrumental in raising many thousands of pounds for the Hope for Tomorrow campaign to bring mobile chemotherapy treatment into the Forest, including the donation of a support car by the Rotary Club of the Royal Forest of Dean during his presidential year.