BUTCHER Lawrie Vasey, who has served generations of housewives, has retired after more than four decades behind the counter.
Mr Vasey, who lives with his wife Sheila on Crook's Watergate Estate, went into butchery after leaving the Royal Air Force, starting with Tommy Wilde, in Willington.
He joined the Robinson brothers, John, Cecil and Billy, 42 years ago at their shop in Church Street, Crook, which was later taken over by Cecil's son, Keith, and grandson Stephen. The business built its reputation by selling locally-produced meat and has lost many suppliers during the foot-and-mouth crisis.
Mr Vasey said: "We haven't been as hard hit as most butchers have, but the way that the industry has gone is devastating. Everybody has suffered."
He intends to spend his retirement walking, taking holidays and dancing, but has promised to go back to the shop on a part-time basis whenever he is needed
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