MANY were the memories of fourth generation blacksmith Mervyn Webber at his funeral service at Morchard Bishop.

Mervyn was the second of the three sons of Arundel and Gladys Webber of Frost House, Morchard Bishop.

Arundel and his brother, George, were third generation blacksmiths at The Forge next door, the business having begun in 1870. Mervyn leaves his brothers Harold and Horace.

Mervyn had died peacefully at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital in July.

In his Eulogy, given by Steve Jeffery at the funeral, he said Mervyn had started school at Morchard Bishop, going on to learn gas and electric arc welding at Exeter Technical College.

He returned to the family business with Harold and after the death of their father and uncle took over the business in 1953. H A and M J Webber Bros. was to become an institution in Morchard.

Mervyn played cricket for Morchard, darts for the London Inn, became a bell ringer ringing at St Mary’s in Morchard for 56 years and followed the football team.

He served on the parish council for 32 years and was secretary of Morchard Bishop Carnival Committee for a number of years.

He enjoyed the agricultural shows and he and Harold often made a link box or wrought iron gate or something else at their forge, winning prizes at the Devon County Show.

Mr Jeffery said even though Mervyn went out and about with friends and enjoyed social events such as whist drives in later life, his greatest love was his home and his work.

Mr Jeffery said: “Together with Harold they made everything from drag harrows and link boxes to wrought iron gates and railings, right down to house signs and weather vanes - you name it, they made it.

“Repairs were a big part of the service to the farming community, the blacksmith’s shop ‘Open All Hours’,” and how there was only one place to go at 8pm on a Friday with a broken or bent piece of equipment.

Harold and Mervyn would more than likely be gardening but would down tools to sort the problem, Mervyn’s dry sense of humour was well-known, also his knowledge of the local farms and farmers.

Blacksmithing and the forge was his life and he never thought of retirement, still down in the shop mending and repairing well into his 80’s.

His death at the age of 89 was the end of an era said Mr Jeffery.