THIRD generation of the family to be a baker, Bill Mitchell ran Mitchell’s Bakery in Crediton for almost 40 years until he retired in 2000 at the age of 69.

Bill died on October 14, aged 87. His funeral is to be at the Exeter and Devon Crematorium at 11.30am on Monday, November 5 and afterwards at the Mews, at Exeter Golf and Country Club.

Bill was born in August 1931 to Freddie and Florence Mitchell at their home above the bakery at 94 High Street. He had an older sister, Rosalyn.

The business had been begun by his grandfather, William Mitchell, who had come to Crediton from Bow and it had been going for more than 100 years when Bill retired.

His grandfather ran the business from 94 High Street, eventually buying the former chapel next door. Originally the bakery had coal ovens.

Leaving Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School at 16, Bill went into the family business until he was called up for National Service.

He joined the RAF, training at RAF Padgate, Manchester, going on to RAF Colaton Cross, Plymouth.

After National Service, Bill returned to the business and evening classes at Exeter Technology College to train as a Master Baker, winning many awards when he graduated.

In 1958 Bill married Joan Heywood at Topsham. Their honeymoon was in Torquay. His mother died in 1960, his father two years later and Bill took over the business.

Then Mitchell’s delivered around all the villages, Fred Broome going out with the horse and cart.

Fred worked for Bill from 1944 until 1991, one of the loyal staff who worked for Bill for a long time.

Many was the time when people queued from Mitchell’s down past the Congregational Church for bread, cakes or pies, Bill often rising at 3am or 4am especially at weekends to bake for the shop. At one time he was baking bread for the schools as well.

Bill enjoyed sport, helping to re-start Shobrooke Cricket Club after the last war with Bob Coaker, continuing to play for the club for a long time.

A keen golfer, he was a member of the Warren Golf Club near Dawlish for more than 20 years, playing most weeks throughout the year.

In his early twenties Bill’s father had bought him a new MG sports car and that led to a life-long love of cars.

He was very modest, often too modest, now and then found in the shop wearing his long, white apron but usually disappearing back to his work.

The shop, now the base for LeRoy Funerals, was a converted chapel. The gallery was used as the cake icing room.

One of his sons, John, commented: "People came from far and wide to shop at Mitchell’s. The long queues down the street were testament to his reputation.

"There was another baker in town and they would work their fortnight’s holidays so that neither was closed at the same time.

"One person who wrote to us after Dad died said that he was a legend, known by all in the town and loved for his amazing meat patties and pastries."

Bill and Joan had four children - Keith, Susan who worked in the bakery for some time, John and Katharine who runs her own business in the town, The Katharine Mitchell School of Dance.

Bill and Joan have eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Bill had a long and happy retirement, spending much time with his grandchildren and time at their flat in Putsborough, North Devon, where he enjoyed walking for miles along the coast and beaches.