A KIND-hearted butcher whose passion was to serve the Ascot community ‘faithfully’ has passed away at the age of 82.

Colin Lewis was a dedicated family butcher at C E Lewis in the heart of Ascot High Street and passed away on July 15.

Mr Lewis' funeral took place on Monday (August 5) where nearly 100 people attended, from his loyal customers to family members and nearby shop owners and businesses.

Suzanne Lewis, Colin's daughter, said: "It was quite touching seeing everyone watch as the funeral cortege passed through Ascot High Street.

"We started off the procession at my brother Nigel's butcher's in Sunningdale, then through the high street towards St Peter's Church where the funeral was held. My dad was a kind, caring and a generous person . He was a real family man and always wanted to take us out for a meal, making sure he wouldn't eat 'tough meat'."

Colin left school at the age of 14 and joined his father’s business in Westfield, Old Woking in 1931 before moving to Sunningdale in the 1950s, and then to Ascot in the 1960s where he has “successfully operated his business ever since”.

Described as a “ray of sunshine” by his son Nigel, Colin served residents in Ascot for over 50 years and loved everyone he met in the shop.

Nigel Lewis said: “The shop was his life, his passion, his stage and everyday was a new performance.

“He has seen so many businesses come and go and in that time, through recessions, meat scares and rising rents, he always successfully operated.”

C E Lewis in Ascot High Street was run by Colin and he shared his expertise to his customers.

From sharpening people’s knives, preparing a piece of lamb or offering his knowledge on how to cook a steak, the famous Ascot butcher was always loyal to his customers.

Nigel added: “His Christmas queues down the high street were a testament to his loyal following locally and he was only ever kind to everyone he met. He was an all round butcher which there will never be again.

“It wasn’t work or a job, it was his vocation in life and if you ever met him in the street he would say ‘have a lovely day’, even if it was pouring with rain.”