Tributes to County Durham fish and chip shop founder Clem

It currently has shops and cafes in Spennymoor, Shildon and Bishop Auckland and used to have takeaways in Chester-le-Street and Sunderland.

The man behind the business, Oliver Clemmet Oxenham – known to most as Clem – passed away peacefully, with Covid-19, in Darlington Memorial Hospital, on July 14.

The 90-year-old leaves behind a large and loving family and a proud legacy.

Mr Oxenham was born in Blackhall in 1931, to Jane and William, a deputy overman at Blackhall Colliery, and was one of ten children.

When home on leave during his National Service he met one of his sister's schoolfriends, Jane, and "that was that", she said after 69 years of marriage.

Clem and Jane Oxenham's wedding day on August 30, 1952

The couple married at St Hilda's Church, in Hartlepool, in 1952, and worked for Mrs Oxenham's father, Harry Wardell, who had a wholesale business and wet fish shop, in Hartlepool.

For a while Mr Oxenham also had a fishing boat called Marget, with a partner Alan Cook, and fished out of Hartlepool Marina.

Clem Oxenham and Alan Cook onboard fishing boat Marget

In 1954 they were thinking about going into business themselves when they heard about a fried fish shop which was coming up for rent in Wood Vue, Spennymoor.

Despite only knowing one family in the area – the Hanselmans whose daugher Sue Snowdon is now Lord Lieutenant of Durham – they made the move and traded as OC Oxenhams.

The business advert which encouraged Clem and Jane Oxenham to move to Clyde Terrace, Spennymoor

A few years later they moved to a shop in Clyde Terrace, which would become known as Clems.

• Fish and chip shop owners celebrate 60 years of service in Spennymoor

Mrs Oxenham said: "We tried to come up with a name that would use letters from both our names but couldn't so it has been Clems ever since."

Clem and Jane Oxenham with their six children

The couple have six children – John, Jane, Peter, Stephen, Julie and Andrew – three of whom followed them into the business along with granddaughter Nicola who runs the Spennymoor shop.

They have 12 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.

Clems celebrate the 60th anniversary of the business, with staff

Mrs Oxenham said: "We worked hard and were very proud of the business we built, we are one of only four family businesses from that time left in the town and have employed lots of local people.

"Clem worked very hard, he was always immaculately turned out, you would never see him in a mess. He was a shirt and tie and white coat man, never a hair out of place.

"He would not stand for any nonsense, if lads came in the shop swearing he would tell them 'stop, there's ladies in here' and they would say 'sorry mister'.

"I think people had a lot of respect for him.

"He was a good father who loved his family, grandchildren and especially being with the great grandchildren who he had more time to play with.

"He loved fish and chips and never tired of them, the best meal he had was in the Spennymoor cafe the Thursday before he died."

Keen golfer Clem Oxenham was a longstanding member at Bishop Auckland Golf Club

Mr Oxenham was a keen golfer and a member of Bishop Auckland Golf Club for many years, including a spell as chairman of the greens. He even turned the lawn at his home, in Middlestone Moor, into a putting green.

He also had a strong sense of humour.

Mrs Oxenham said: "He said when he died he wanted his ashes to be thrown in the sea, so the fish could get their own back, so that's what we'll do."

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