Fans have paid tribute to George Michael following his death this Christmas Day.

The 53-year-old former Bushey Meads School pupil, who rose to fame as the front man of Wham! and had chart-topping hits including Last Christmas, died peacefully at home, his publicist said.

The cause of the star's death was heart failure, according to his manager Michael Lippman.

Watford Observer:

Tracey Wills, of Ashfield Avenue, Bushey, grew up listening to his music and upon hearing about his death this Christmas she was ‘devastated’.

The 44-year-old said: “I was very shocked and sad when I heard he had died – especially because it was on Christmas Day. I just could not believe the news.

“I wanted to do something to tell his family that everyone loved him and his music. I knew he was from Bushey and I put a post on one of the groups saying we should do something.

“A lot of people said we should not leave flowers as they will die but instead do something in his memory.

“Everybody can relate to George Michael’s life and his music. It feels like something is now missing from everyone’s life.”

Father Neil Kelley, of St James’ Church, in Bushey, got in contact with Mrs Wills and told her the doors of the church would be open all week and people can pay their respects by lighting a candle.

Watford Observer:

Mrs Wills said: “It was lovely. Everyone who came was in their 40s or 50s and have been listening to his music all their lives.

“People were coming and sharing their memories of him. Some people were talking about meeting him or seeing him in concert.

“As it was on Boxing Day not many people were able to attend as they had other plans but the church is going to stay open until this coming Saturday.”

Michael - whose real name was Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou - sold more than 100 million albums throughout a career spanning almost four decades.

Born in East Finchley in 1963, Michael spent most of his childhood in Kingsbury, attending Kingsbury High School.

His parents later moved to Radlett, Hertfordshire, where he attended Bushey Meads High School.

Sara Joseph, a fan who has been listening to his music since she was 10 years old, said “I will always remember hanging outside his house in Hampstead as a teenager and going to many concerts.

Watford Observer:

Tributes outside his home in Highgate

“I won the first two tickets on capital radio for his MTV unplugged small gig in front of 200 people and sat next to Pepsi from Wham!

“Last Christmas has always been a special song for me but I love them all really. His voice was just perfect and he was the loveliest and most generous man.

“He will be an icon I will never forget. Myself and my family are truly gutted and cannot believe this day has come. We will never forget him.”

Pepsi and Shirlie were Wham!’s backup singers who met the pop star at Bushey Meads School as well.

Kim White, nee Mallon, lived in Middle Furlong, in Bushey, and was in the same class as Andrew Ridgeley's younger brother Paul.

Watford Observer:

She attended Bushey Meads from 1975 to 1980. Teachers she recalls from her time at the school are deputy head Mr Swann, Miss Jeffries who taught English and Mr George who taught biology.

Music lessons were held in a block built the year after she started under the tutelage of Miss Mendleson Roth.

She said: "We were split into groups for different subjects so I was not in every class with Paul but I remember him and George as friends at school though we were in the year below him and Andrew.

"I knew they practised in St Peters church hall up in Bushey Heath and were in a band called The Executive."

The five piece ska band formed in the summer of 1979 comprised George, Andrew and Paul along with David Austin and Andrew Leaver.

Their first gig was at Bushey and Oxhey Methodist church hall on Bonfire Night where they played their debut track Rude Boy.

The band were also known to play a ska version of Andy Williams' Can't Get Used To Losing You and somewhat more obscure, a version of Beethoven's Fur Elise.

An inability to get a&r representation or secure proper gigs led to the demise of the group in 1980 leaving George and Andrew to pursue pop fame as a duo.

Mrs White said: "We did not see much of them after leaving school and the first thing I remember hearing about them and I will never forget this is when we went round the corner to my friend Paul Smith's house and his dad Steve said 'oh my god you won't believe who's on Top of The Pops'.

"He just went ballistic in the front room. I think Paul was there too playing drums on at least a couple of the tracks."

Andrew who lived on Coldharbour Lane was the more flamboyant of the two, other pupils recall George as quite studious but remember Andrew more for his suede hi-tops and flashy sports car.

"Andrew was the one who stood out and the driving force behind the band," says Mrs White.

"George was completely different from how you saw him on stage.

"Of all the people who have died this year this is the worst because it is personal.

"It is someone you saw every day, someone you grow up with, I felt really really sad, but mainly for his family as it's them that will feel it the most."

Fans have now left flowers outside his former school in Bushey and they are hoping to organise a charity concert playing Wham! and his solo songs.

Watford Observer:

Mrs Wills said: “We are hoping to speak with the head teacher at Bushey Meads School and organise a charity concert.

“The money raised will go towards one of the charities which was close to his heart. He was a very giving man.

“He was the claim to fame for people in Bushey and a lot of people loved him.”

St James’ Church will be open every day from 12pm to 6pm until this coming Saturday for anyone who wishes to pay their respects to the late pop star.

Fans have also shared messages of love for the popstar on social media.

Do you have any fond memories of George Michael? Comment below or email steven.brown@london.newsquest.co.uk.