TRIBUTE has been paid to a "true local" who has died and "gone to the truck park in the sky" at the age of 89.

Retired haulage contractor Tony 'Sandman' Lewis died peacefully at home in Peterchurch on February 20.

Daughter Jayne Hawkes said Mr Lewis was well-known around Herefordshire and beyond for his friendly persona and heart of gold.

Originally from Preston on Wye, Mr Lewis' passion for machinery and trucks was sparked at an early age, while he was delivering bread to surrounding villages with his father in a Dodge WC54 ambulance. Many locals will remember this parked at the front of Albion Garage by St Peter’s Church.

After his National Service, Tony settled in Peterchurch with his wife, Gill. He went on to assemble a motley but fabulous crew of drivers, who over the next 40 years delivered to every corner of Herefordshire and the surrounding counties.

The sound of the lorries leaving the yard and heading to Gore Quarry at Kington would be heard at 6am Monday to Friday.

Mr Lewis' daughter said her dad adored all the drivers, and many of them remain great friends to this day.

Another passion was motocross, and Mr Lewis was often up early on a Sunday to travel across the country for motocross events, at which his late son Ian would race, while he and son-in-law Rob would take trips to vintage vehicle shows and on steam trains.

Mr Lewis also enjoyed collecting machines, including a Scammell Explorer, ‘bargain' old Range Rovers and many generators (many of which Gill was unaware of). The late Terry Jackson helped restore the Scammell to a thing of beauty rather than a heap of overgrown scrap in Bill Monty’s field.

Having decided it was finally time to downsize from his Volvo 6x4 tippers, his final (and smallest) set of wheels was a mobility scooter which was often seen going flat out across the busy main road between his home and Albion Garage.

Often seen at weekends in the Boughton or the Nags Head, Mr Lewis enjoyed catching up with Howey, Dave, Callum and Dougie over a steak and a few drinks. There were many good debates about the price of potatoes and politics.

When his daughter, Jayne, was awarded an MBE, he thought there had been a mistake, but made the trip to London and was very proud to see the Queen present her with her medal. He was less impressed about having to wear a suit and stay overnight in London.

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"Thank you to all his friends who have been amazing keeping an eye over him during the last few years," Ms Hawkes said.

"You know who you are and will be thanked individually. To the doctors and all medical staff at Peterchurch and Ewyas Harold surgeries and Amanda and the Golden Valley district nurses, the care and support for Tony at home was wonderful. You made a significant difference.

"One of the last true ‘locals’, he will be greatly missed by all his family and friends."

Mr Lewis' funeral will be held opposite his garage at St Peter's Church in Station Road, Peterchurch, at 11am on March 16.