TOUCHING tributes have been paid to a “wonderful” former Leigh butcher and amateur historian whose death has prompted an outpouring of sympathy from hundreds of south Essex residents.

Roger Shinn, who ran a butcher’s shop in Rectory Grove, Leigh, passed away “at home with his family” on Tuesday, following a period of ill health.

In a statement, his family said: “Over the past few weeks, we have been overwhelmed by your kind messages, and we want to thank everyone for being so thoughtful and sharing their support and well wishes.

“Roger was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle. We will miss him so very dearly and his wonderful, and sometimes altered, funny stories.”

Echo: Roger created a calendar of jokes in 1993.Roger created a calendar of jokes in 1993. (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Shinn, who lived in Hadleigh, ran a butcher’s shop with his brother Andy until it closed in 2001. He used to write mother-in-law jokes and stories on the A-board outside, entertaining passers-by for many years.

Leigh councillor Peter Wexham recalled: “Roger was famous along Rectory Grove for his butcher’s shop and his humour, which was mainly aimed at his mother-in-law.”

In more recent years, Mr Shinn turned his humour to Facebook, where he became very popular for his jokes and historical posts about Thundersley and Hadleigh.

Within 16 hours after his death was announced, more than 650 messages of sympathy flooded in from those who knew him or got to know him through his Facebook posts.

One of those paying tribute was Thundersley resident Julie Taylor, who wrote: “I feel we have all lost someone dear and special.”

Mr Shinn was also a respected contributor to the Hadleigh and Thundersley Archive.

Fellow historian Bob Delderfield, 82, of Marlin Close, Daws Heath, told the Echo: “I knew Roger particularly as a supporter of the archive since its foundation more than a decade ago. Roger and I were distantly related by marriage, and he loved a good chat about family and ancestors.

“If I or one of my archive colleagues came pestering Roger for information, he was always welcoming. He clearly loved digging into his remarkable knowledge of local events and people.

“I shall miss Roger, a true gentleman, a quiet man with a lively mind and a mischievous sense of humour.”