THE  sudden unexpected death of Walter Woodhams, days before his 74th birthday, came as a shock to all who know him, writes Michael Bowman.  

His larger than life character will be sadly missed by many in the local community and in the world of antiques.

Walter, known by friends as ‘Wally’, moved from London to Devon in 1991 and developed a particular fondness for Shaldon but in his heart he remained forever a ‘Fulham boy’.  

He was a keen amateur boxer in his younger days, his claim to fame being that he once fought middleweight titleholder, Alan Minter.

He was a shrewd judge of antique furniture, bronzes and works of art and made many significant finds.  His early years spent training in his father’s removals business, handling fine antiques for the main London auction rooms, helped develop his eye for quality.

For a period in the 1990’s, Walter owned an Italian restaurant at the top of Fore Street in Shaldon and more recently had dealt in antiques from premises off North Street, Ashburton.  Throughout this time he was a frequent visitor to all the local auction rooms, bidding strongly against any competition.  He held no truck with dealers’ bidding rings, ruffling many feathers along the way.

Beneath the showmanship, Walter nurtured an enduring tenderness for the memory of his parents and family.  Mary’s Cottage on the Green in Shaldon bears his mother’s name.  

His tongue-in-cheek Woodham’s Mews on Fore Street always raises a smile. 

He now joins his beloved sister Patsy, buried at Teignmouth many years ago.  He leaves behind his sister Julia, in Eastbourne,  nephews and  nieces, as well as great nephews and nieces

A funeral service will be held in Teignmouth at  Our Lady and  Saint Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church on  September 12, at 12pm.