AROUND 300 people attended the funeral of a long-serving Blaenavon trader who worked in his shop until the day he died.

Even at the ripe old age of 86, George Spencer worked in his electrical appliance shop on Commercial Street - which he started up around 1960.

He passed away on November 6 after falling ill at his shop and was taken to Nevill Hall Hospital after being found collapsed at his home.

Around 300 people attended his funeral on Thursday last week (November 13) at St Peters Church, Blaenavon, which was followed by his burial at Varteg Road cemetery.

Mr Spencer’s niece, Sian Gallagher, explained that after his wife, Charmaine, died 19 years ago, the traders in the town became “his second family”.

“I don’t think he knew how well people thought of him as he was very humble”, she added.

Traders paid their respects by displaying flowers tied with a black ribbon, and Brian Watkins Funeral Directors arranged for the hearse to be driven around the town.

Mr Spencer was the last chairman of the Urban District Council in Blaenavon in 1973/74, before local government reorganisation.

Blaenavon resident, Phyllis Roberts, 90, served alongside him as a councillor and described him as “very knowledgeable” with the community.

She said she held “a lot of respect for him”.

“His shop and it wasn’t just a place to go shopping but people called in there for a chat,” she added.

Close friend, Adrian Smith, said he was a “caring man” and explained that Mr Spencer, a former West Monmouth School pupil, left the town to study to become a doctor but returned following his father’s death.

Then he became involved in technical TV equipment, even travelling to Pinewood Studios to set up camera systems.

He also used to perform magic tricks for the local community in his younger yeas and was a founding members of a photographic society.

Blaenavon Town Council shared its condolences. Town Mayor Sylvia Lewis said: “George was an articulate, intelligent and witty man who will be missed by all the residents.”