TRIBUTES have been paid to a lifelong community stalwart who has sadly passed away.

Joe Barlas MBE, who dedicated his life to helping children and the elderly through his time as the secretary of the Inverclyde Voluntary Council of Social Services, died on Wednesday August 7 at the age of 91.

Joe, who was the beloved husband of Pat for 63 years and a devoted dad to his daughters Fiona Cannie and Heather Logue and proud granddad and great granddad, was renowned and respected throughout Inverclyde for his decades of service to people in the area.

His daughters Fiona and Heather say he will be sorely missed.

Fiona said: "We were so lucky to have him as a dad and granddad.

"We will always cherish the memories that we have of a very happy childhood."

Joe, who was cared for at Balclutha Court Care Home with his wife Pat, 89, was brought up in Greenock's High Street.

He started his working life in a butcher's shop until he accidentally cut off his thumb, which had to be sewn back on.

After this, he embarked on an apprenticeship as a motor mechanic with the well known company of John S Thomson & Sons, later joining an English engineering company.

He then completed his national service with the RAF.

In 1954, Joe started working at IMB and was latterly seconded to the Inverclyde Voluntary Council of Social Service - a transport service to help disabled children and elderly people get out and about.

One of Joe's first ventures was an appeal, supported by the Greenock Telegraph, for every working person in Inverclyde to make a one off donation of 10 pence.

It raised £6,000 in one month, a huge sum at the time.

Thanks to Joe's determination and unrelenting commitment, the organisation went from strength to strength with the number of specially adapted minibuses growing from six buses to 25 and a hall, attached to the old social work headquarters in Dalrymple Street was opened and named 'The Barlas Centre'.

One of Joe's happiest memories was in 1980, the international year of the disabled, when, after months of meticulous planning and preparation, he took seven disabled children on a holiday of a lifetime to Disney World in Florida.

His efforts were recognised by the mayor of Orlando, who honoured Joe with Freedom of the City.

After retiring in 1984, Joe continued his work with the organisation.

His extraordinary efforts to help others in the community were recognised in 2000, when the Queen presented Joe with an MBE at Buckingham Palace.

At the time Joe's achievements were also recognised by then-Provost David Roach, who hosted a reception dinner for him at the Grand Corridor in the Municipal Buildings.

Despite suffering from rheumatoid arthritis for years, this never held Joe back in his selfless work.

His daughter Fiona said: "Even in the days when he was in so much pain, he kept going and never made a fuss about it.

"In the past year dad's health deteriorated but he kept his fighting spirit right up until the end."

One of the memories Joe's family will cherish is a special tea he enjoyed with his beloved wife Pat just five days before he passed away.

Fiona said: "One of the nicest memories is that on the Friday he had just returned to the home after he was in hospital for two weeks.

"The first thing he did was ask to see our mum.

"So they enjoyed tea together - it was so nice.

"Mum was always his priority."

Joe was utterly devoted to his family and loved to spend time in Australia where his daughter Heather and her daughter Rachel live.

During his trips to Australia, Joe, who was the last surviving of five brothers, made lifelong friends and even celebrated his 87th birthday there.

Fiona added: "He loved nothing more than spending time with his family and his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

"He loved being around them."

Joe is survived by his wife Pat, 89, daughters Fiona and Heather, and his three grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

His family are keen to thank everyone for all their support following their father's death.