A SERVICE was held at Sandford Parish Church on Friday, March 1, for Vic Tuckett, a well-known local man.

Vic died on February 8 aged 78. The Rev Paul Fillery conducted the service and the bells were rung for this former bell ringer at the end.

Vic had a "considerable talent" in all things wood, said Mr Fillery. A pair of candlesticks made by him was on loan from Crediton Parish Church, where they are used every Sunday.

The floral tribute also reflected this, with curls of wood shavings amongst the yellow and orange flowers.

A Sandford man born and bred, Mr Fillery said the service at Sandford was a completion of the circle that had included Vic’s Christening, confirmation, he had sung in the choir, served at the altar and it was the church where he married Julie, his wife of 55 years.

From school at Sandford, Vic had gone on to Hayward’s, which he left at 14, to follow the same trade as his father.

He had joined Crediton firm Dart and Francis as an apprentice and his work with them took him away from home on jobs in Liverpool, Bradford and London among many other places, working on churches, cathedrals, civic buildings and private houses.

Vic kept a photographic record of most of his work, and this was shared with friends and family after the service.

When he married Julie they set up home on Lynwood Terrace in Crediton, and had two daughters. However "after an argument with a circular saw" Vic left Dart and Francis and worked for 21 years as a technician in the Design Department of QE School. Vic and his family moved to 77 High Street, which Vic renovated and where he created his workshop.

This was where he made the lovely wooden trophy for the “Crediton Courier” for the champion red Devon animal at the Mid Devon Show.

After setting up his own wood-turning business, Vic was honoured to have the opportunity to undertake work for the restoration of the private Chapel at Windsor Castle after the fire.

Vic had a life-long passion for model engineering and all things steam and, in his retirement, this brought him many new friends, with whom he spent time on the West country railways, at Worthy Moor, Woody Bay, model engineering exhibitions and Dorset Steam Fair to name but a few.

Donations in Vic’s memory at the service are being shared between Marie Curie and Hospiscare and may still be made through A White and Sons, Albert Road, Crediton EX17 2BZ.