A family has been inundated with sympathy after the death of Norman Bragg - who devoted most of his life to running a town's oldest shop.

The 85-year-old, who died after suffering a stroke following a long illness, was just six months old when his dad, Harry, opened Bragg's Cycles in the High Street, Abingdon, in 1913.

Its predecessor in Bridge Street had been opened 18 months earlier.

The shop is still in the High Street and Mr Bragg, of Norman Avenue, Abingdon, remained a director of the firm up until his death, alongside wife Beryl, daughter Norma and son David.

Norma Fernside, his daughter, said the family had already received more than 150 sympathy cards and letters from friends, customers and other businessmen in the town since his death. She said: "What has come through from people has been that my father was a gentle man and a gentleman."

Mr Bragg first joined his father's firm in 1928 after leaving Culham School. He retired just five years ago after suffering his first stroke.

Mrs Fernside said her dad always wanted the business to maintain its family-run ethos.

She said: "Although we are modernising, I am still the chairman and my son Andrew has been in the shop for two years.

"There has been a lot of loyalty inspired by my dad. Wilson 'Toot' Hosier, who was manager, worked here for 50 years before retiring."

Mr Bragg was also a former president of the Abingdon and District Chamber of Commerce, as well as working as both a voluntary and full-time firefighter. John Sheppard, another past president of the Chamber, said: "He was a very active member and very well-liked.

"He was also a familiar sight for riding around the town on his bike, which he only stopped doing a couple of years ago."

In fact, Mr Bragg even took part in the London to Brighton bike ride in aid of The British Heart Foundation when he was 75.

His funeral was due to take place today (Thurs, Oct 29) at 2pm at St Helen's Church, in West St Helen Street, followed by a private cremation in Oxford.

Donations can be made to The Stroke Unit, on the Beeson Ward at Oxford's Radcliffe Infirmary, by sending them to funeral director Edward Carter, at 107 South Avenue, Abingdon, OX14 1QS.

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