THE Reeves family, who ran a chain of fish and chip shops in Oxfordshire, are mourning the loss of two loved ones.

Bob Reeves died aged 63 in April, and his mother Muriel Reeves died shortly afterwards, aged 86, with her funeral taking place in June.

The Reeves family was well known in Wantage and Abingdon for its chain of fish and chip shops, which were launched in 1895 in Wantage.

In 1919 the firm moved to Abingdon and opened shops in Ock Street and the Vineyard.

The company also used mobile vans to sells their fish and chips.

Mr Reeves helped out at the fish and chip shop in The Vineyard. The family ran the shops until the late 1980s.

Although Mr Reeves helped out in the shop as a child, he later became a lorry driver, working first for the Coxeters furniture company. He then became Class 1 HGV driver and transported goods all over the UK.

Mr Reeves’s widow Janice, of Tavistock Avenue, Didcot, said: “People of a certain age who live in Abingdon and Wantage will definitely remember going to chip shops run by the family.”

Mr Reeves, who died from a chest infection, left Janice, his sons Vince, Steve and Dave, and two grandsons Kenan and Logan.

Mr Reeves and Janice had recently celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary.

Muriel Reeves lived with her family at The Hyde, in Abingdon, before moving to Sherwood Avenue.

For many years she was a familiar face at the St John Ambulance hut in Abbey Meadows.

She also volunteered at football matches and air displays.