TRIBUTES have been paid to the beloved daughter-in-law of iconic Worcestershire cricketer Basil D'Oliveira, following her death from cancer.

Tracey D'Oliveira's son, Marcus, said his mum was known as much for being a nurse in Worcester as she was for her marriage to Damian D'Oliveira.

He added that she also had a special bond with her father-in-law, Basil, and became a key part of the cricketing dynasty.

Marcus, aged 32, said: "She used to go and pick him [Basil] up from the centre of town after a few beers.

"He used to always call her. She used to go into town in her nightie and slippers to pick him up.

"Although she was a D'Oliveira, she also made her own name. She was a phlebotomist [a nurse that draws blood from a patient].

"We couldn't go around Worcester for 10 minutes without her being stopped by one of her patients."

Damian married Tracey in Worcester's St George's Church, in 1983, when he was 22 and she was 24.

Marcus said that some of his mother's fondest memories were from when she and her husband lived in New Zealand, where he played two seasons of cricket.

However, her son added that Worcester always held a special place in her heart.

He said: "She went to many places in the world and she would not have moved out of Worcester.

"She loved the city and the people here, it was her home. It's still her home.

"She was such a caring and amazing person, she made time for everyone. We couldn't have asked for a better mum, she was always good to us.

"She was proud of all three of us. She was also very proud that she became a grandmother when Brett had his first child 12 months ago. Mum got to see his first birthday."

Her life changed when Damian died of cancer, aged 53, in 2014.

Marcus said: "It was difficult for her, he was her soul partner. She was strong, but she certainly missed him."

She died aged 59 from small cell lung cancer on December 13.

Marcus thanked the staff at St Richard's Hospice, in Worcester, for caring for his mother in her final days.

She is survived by Marcus and her two other sons Dominic and Brett.

Brett D'Oliveira has followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather by playing for Worcestershire County Cricket Club.

Mrs D'Oliveira's funeral will take place at Worcester Crematorium at 12.15pm on January 11.