RETIRED wine merchant Peter Lee, described as a “man of the high street and a man of the town”, has died aged 76.

Peter, whose family traded on Crediton High Street over three generations from 1920, died of heart failure at Hospiscare in Exeter on Wednesday, May 2.

Peter ran Lee’s Wine Stores at 21 High Street from the 1970s before selling the premises in 2003. The shop is now home to Crediton Community Bookshop.

“He was a man who was committed to the high street and very much patriotic to Crediton,” commented life-long friend David White. “He was a man of the high street and a man of the town.”

Peter’s family moved to Crediton in 1920 from Okehampton, where Thomas Lee, Peter’s grandfather, was in the grocery trade.

Thomas Lee built up his grocery business in Crediton by buying 22, 20 and 19 High Street, eventually employing some 30 staff and running five delivery vans.

Peter’s father Eddie Lee bought 21 High Street in 1963 to create a wine and spirit department and the grocery business was sold to Tom Connell in 1968, leaving Peter to focus solely on building the wine trade.

“Peter was very much into retail and committed to keeping the high street going,” continued Mr White. “He was well-liked and well-respected.”

Peter was born in Albert Road’s maternity hospital, now Kenwyn care home, in 1941. After attending Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School he trained in the grocery trade with the Danish Bacon Company, tea and coffee houses in Bristol and at Cadbury’s of Bourneville.

Peter then acquired his knowledge of wine through training at Rawlings of London, at a wine testing station in Roussillon, France, at port and wine houses in Portugal and at Martell Brandy in Cognac.

He honed his palette through extensive trips through Spain, Italy and France and attained a Wine and Spirit Education Trust higher certificate with distinction and took the diploma course.

Beyond the business, Peter was a committed freemason, joining the Crediton Lodge in the 1970s and progressing to a Grand Officer in the Craft Degree.

Post-retirement Peter enjoyed gardening and travelled widely, taking in Australia, Canada, Alaska, Austria, Ireland and much of the UK. He was a faithful worshipper at St Luke’s in Posbury and Crediton Parish Church and supported both churches throughout his life.

Peter, who was born on July 27, in 1941, is survived by his partner Christine, his sister Pam, his ex-wife Wendy Lee and their two sons Julian and Jonathan.

A thanksgiving service will be held at Crediton Parish Church at 2.30pm on Tuesday, May, 15.