ONE of the parish’s much-loved characters has sadly passed away this month, aged 89.

Donald Cook, who was known as the Liphook Cobbler, had been part of the community for 56 years, before finally closing the doors of his shoe repair shop in December 2016.

He set up his business ‘Tweenways’ in 1960 in an old converted and unheated air raid shelter, facilitated by a teenaged Andrew Luff, whose family then owned the land off London Road.

Customers were often treated to reminiscences about the past and long discussions about Don’s time in the services and his views on politics, while getting their shoes repaired, with some even travelling to see him from as far away as Canada.

Although his work was first-class, the somewhat chaotic conditions in the workshop belied his expertise as a trained cobbler.

Tributes have been paid to Don on the Liphook Community Website, describing him as ‘lovely, kind, friendly’ and ‘polite’, as well as a real craftsman who was ‘always generous to children and had time for his customers’.

Don lived with Mable his wife of 62 years, in Headley and leaves behind a large and loving family.

The funeral was held at All Saints Church, Headley, on Wednesday.