Villagers' tribute to 'icon' who served community

A former sub-postmaster who served his village for more than four decades has been remembered as "an all-round icon" by his community.

Dave Masters ran the Post Office in Harlestone, Northamptonshire, from 1979 until the branch closed in 2007, before carrying on to run a shop there until last summer.

His family told BBC Radio Northampton he spent his life devoted to serving other people before he passed away a few weeks ago, at the age of 89.

"I'm really just incredibly proud to be able to call him Dad," said his son, Matt Masters.

He said his father spent most days serving his community in Upper Harlestone and neighbouring Lower Harlestone, a stone's throw away from the Althorp estate.

"I remember as a young lad waking up at five with the sound of the postman and the newspapers turning up on the shop floor six days a week," said Matt.

"He didn't even rest on a Sunday, because he was still doing papers on a Sunday.

"He worked seven days a week for 46 years with the odd week off here and there for family holidays and bowls tours.

"He won a National Lifeline Award in 1991 in recognition of his service to local people."

Dave's friend and neighbour, Lynn Dieball, has lived in Harlestone for 72 years and said he was loved by many.

"Dave was always a pleasant, happy chap - he loved village life. He was always chatty [and] in the village, he supported people," she said.

Lynn's husband Richard added he was "just an all-round icon".

"The first thing he would ask [was] how my family was, and then he would tell me what his family were doing. He was so family oriented," he said.

"I used to take my children and grandchildren into the shop, and he kept a whole section for children in the village of penny sweets.

"He used to ask how much money they had, and then they choose and he'd make them add up what they'd had.

"He'd always have a cheery smile and he'd always have time to talk to you. He was a character."

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