The family of the man behind a popular boys’ club have vowed to keep his legacy alive after his death.

Dick Clark, a familiar face at the Brookside Boys’ Club, in Buxton Road, Borehamwood, has died after a three-month battle with kidney cancer.

The club was first opened in 1965 and is the last social group for boys aged ten and over in the area.

Mr Clark had been running it for 45 years.

His granddaughter Kathryn said: “Everyone loved and respected him down at the club. They were so good to him and he was so good to them back.

“It’s a huge loss. But the club is his legacy, and we’re determined to keep it open.”

The 85-year-old dedicated an “immense” amount of time to the boys’ at the club, aiming to keep them off the streets and out of prison.

In 2013, the club fell on tough times and faced having to raise £7,000 to stay open for the following year.

At the time, Mr Clark told Borehamwood Times: “It keeps me young and I love it here, I couldn’t imagine it not being here. This place is my life.

“It’s an important community asset. If it were to go, it would leave a black hole in the area.”

Brookside Boys’ has been shut this week in tribute, but will reopen next week, when it will be run by Mr Clark’s son, Stephen.

Mr Clark was born in east London and married his wife, Vera, in 1953 before the couple moved to Borehamwood.

They had eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren, who Kathryn says have the “fondest” memories of their grandfather.

She added: “He would spoil us – we always knew we could count on him if our parents said no to something.

“His family was everything and his grandchildren meant the world to him. He had a wicked sense of humour and used to take us to play football.

“Around five years ago he was playing a match with my siblings and he and I fell over. He’d broken his arm but we didn’t realise – it was funny to us, though probably not to him.”

Mr Clark also used to travel around the country with his son, John, who took part in wrestling matches.

Kathryn added: “He was always protective of my nan too. He would never let her go to the shops alone. She is very upset, we all are. He’ll be sorely missed.”

The funeral will be held at 1.30pm at West Herts Crematourium on Saturday, June 20. A wake will be held at Boreham Wood Football Club after the service.