Luff pays tribute to former LVA chairman

The MP heading the investigation into pub companies has paid tribute to trade veteran Mike Stevens, who has died of cancer aged 63.

Stevens had been chairman of Worcester LVA for nearly 30 years. He ran several pubs, most recently Tobys, a freehouse in Worcester that he sold a couple of years ago.

A tribute from Peter Luff, Mid-Worcestershire MP and chairman of the Business, Innovation & Skills Committee, was read out at his funeral.

It said: "It was a privilege to know Mike. He was committed to the British pub and did so much to work for the interests of publicans and their customers.

"His loss will be felt keenly by all who knew him. The pub trade here in Worcestershire and in the rest of the country needs all the friends it can get — and he was one of the very best."

British Beer & Pub Association Midlands secretary Richard Matthews said Stevens made his 140-strong LVA among the best in Britain.

Trade consultant Phil Dixon said the trade has "lost a true champion the like of which we will not see again".