Mr Bob Buckingham, Helmdon's family butcher for more than (?) years, has died in hospital, aged 75.

And his close friend, Mr Lewis Blencoe, has paid a glowing tribute to the "first class tradesman" who served Helmdon and many surrounding villages almost all his working life.

"He was a real craftsman in his work and he was very popular with his many customers and all who knew him," Mr Blencoe said.

Mr Buckingham was brought up in the butcher's trade, living with his parents and two brothers who ran a family business in Northampton.

When he was 18, he was sent to Helmdon to run (a) village butcher's which his father bought him and he stayed in business there until his retirement in 1969.

Even after leaving the shop, he stayed at the same house at 35 Wappenham Road.

Mr Buckingham died in Banbury's Horton Hospital, leaving a widow, Dorothy. The couple had no children.

A funeral service will take place at Helmdon parish church on Wednesday at 11.30 am.

Northampton Chronicle and Echo - 14th November 1980 (or 1981)