A FAMILIAR face behind the counter of Hay and Brecon Farmers has died aged 79.

Nigel Birch worked at the agricultural co-operative for 50 years and was also a Hay-on-Wye town councillor for more than 40 years, being twice mayor.

He died on December 23 at Bronllys Hospital after losing his battle against cancer and his funeral service was held on January 5 at Hereford Crematorium.

Hay mayor Fiona Howard was one of those who spoke at the service.

Speaking fondly of her council colleague, she said: “He loved this town. He was Hay. Everything about him was Hay. He was so loyal to everything about Hay. He didn’t suffer fools at all but he had a fantastic sense of humour.”

Amongst the mourners were Mr Birch's close friends Burton Paul and Brian Webb who had lived with him in Bear Street.

Burton said Nigel had been like a father to him but said Hay had always been his baby.

“He used to tell me there are two kinds of people who move to Hay; those that come and love it and appreciate it and those who come and want to change everything.

“He used to tell people who wanted to change it, ‘go back to where you come from’.”

Mr Birch was well known for his support of the elderly in the town and was passionate about the Hay and District Dial-a-Ride transport service for the elderly and infirm.

He was also a favourite with elderly customers at Hay and Brecon Farmers.

Manager, Michael Barrell, said some of the elderly ladies would only be served by Nigel, who had an impressive knowledge of the company’s customers and products.

Employee, Neil James, who worked with Nigel at the branch’s predecessor, Hay & District Farmers, when it was in the centre of town with a mill, said Nigel had occasionally disappeared from work to a local ‘watering hole’ or to do some shopping.

Aside from the council and work, he was an accomplished jazz pianist and church organ player, having learnt to play when he was at Shrewsbury College.

He was also known to have fallen asleep at the organ. At one time he played at St Mary’s Church in Hay and had enjoyed playing for friends at their children’s weddings.

However his playing came to an abrupt end at St Mary’s after a midnight mass service one Christmas eve.

“When he got to the organ, instead of playing the usual music, he played a selection from West Side Story. That was the last time he played the organ at Hay Church,” said Brian, who grew up with Nigel.

He said his friend also had a passion for fast cars and horses.

Brian remembers Nigel having attended pony club and jumping on a horse as a teenager. He had enjoyed racing in point-to-points and later joined the Golden Valley Hunt.

He had liked to relax in front of the television watching two of his favourite programmes; horse racing and Songs of Praise.

Nigel was diagnosed with cancer a year ago and despite a downturn in his health in the last two months of his life had worked up until a few weeks before his death and had managed to attend a meeting of Hay Town Council in November.

So when he died his death shook the town he loved so much.

“It was a complete shock. Everyone knew he was ill but as he was such a fighter no one expected it. They thought he would be home for Christmas so it was a complete shock,” said Fiona.

Burton added: “You can’t walk from here (home) to the paper shop without people hugging you and crying. The town is in complete shock. Everyone has said they have lost one of the greatest people of Hay.”

Donations are being sent to the Llewellyn Ward at Bronllys Hospital where Nigel received the best of care from a service he had fought passionately to keep and whose nurses, together with the Macmillan nurses from Hereford and Powys have been highly praised by Nigel’s friends.