TRIBUTES have been paid to a former grocer and fireman.

Alfred Williamson, who was 91, died on July 17.

Mr Williamson ran Williamson’s grocer’s shop in Newbiggin, Malton, for 30 years along with a second shop in Old Malton.

Born on July 4, 1927, Mr Williamson had a twin brother, Roy, along with two other brothers and two sisters.

Their mother died at the age of 26, leaving dad, Alf, to bring up six children.

Mr Williamson left school at the age of 15 and went to work for a Tarmac company in York.

At 19 he started work with British Rail in Malton, working on the steam trains to Whitby, Pickering, York and Scarborough.

Mr Williamson met his wife, Audrey while sledging in Wentworth Street car park and they were married on October 25, 1950, at St Michael’s Church in Malton.

The couple first lived in Norton and had five children Martin, Dawn, Margaret, Richard and Paula. When British Rail closed the sheds in Malton, Mr Williamson was relocated to Middlesbrough, coming home only at weekends, so he went to work as a maintenance man for Norton Town Council and then Yorkshire Farmers Bacon Factory.

In 1957 he also joined as a retained fireman at Malton fire station serving for more than 30 years.

Mr Williamson started a new venture in 1961, taking on a grocery business in Malton. He and Audrey also later bought Wood’s Stores in Old Malton to run alongside the Malton shop.

They went to live there after all the children had left home, later moving to Princess Road in Malton in 1987 and retiring four years later.

His daughter, Dawn, said: “Dad was also a collector of any old memorabilia to do with Malton, Norton and Old Malton, showing off his collections many times for the benefit of local charities.

“He will be greatly missed by all his large loving family.”

Mr Williamson’s funeral service will be held at St Michael’s Church, Malton tomorrow (Thursday) at 2pm.