Popular Sidmouth butcher Clive Hayman, worked at Church Street shop for more than 50 years

ONE of Sidmouth’s well-known butchers has died, aged 84.

Clive Hayman worked at the family shop in Church Street for more than 50 years, following in his father, Stanley’s, footsteps.

Son Stewart, who has taken on the family business – founded in 1907 by his great grandfather John James – said Stanley took over the shop in 1939.

Clive, a Sidmouthian, who lived in the town all his life, left Woolbrook Senior School (now St Nicholas Junior School) when he was about 14.

At first he worked in the butchers’ shop, but, said Stewart: “He joined the Royal Navy in 1944 and served on a minesweeper in the North Sea and went to Malta.”

Clive came out in 1946/7 then returned to Sidmouth and the family business, becoming a familiar face to regular customers over the 50 years he served them.

Clive enjoyed sailing and became a member of Sidmouth Sailing Club. After his marriage to Pam, with whom he had three sons, Stewart, Robert and Andrew, he built his own Sidmouth One design clinker sailing boat, The Redshank class.

“He built it with William Beavis behind Fields, then he sailed when I was younger,” said Stewart. “He was also a member of the Angling Club.”

Clive’s wife died in 1995 and he moved from his home in Newlands Road about five years ago to Brinkburn Court near the Manor Pavilion Theatre.

In recent years he developed Altzheimers and was living at a home in Exmouth when he died.

“Dad was also president of the War Memorial Club for some years and a Freemason,” added Stewart.

A funeral was held on Friday at Sidmouth Parish Church. As well as his sons, Clive leaves seven grandchildren.