A WELL-KNOWN and respected farmer and butcher has died aged 94.

William Boardman Peat was born to Will and Ada Peat who owned William Peat Butchers, in Barnard Castle, in June 1922.

Mr Peat, who was known as Billy, grew up in the town and at the age of 14 was happy to follow his Barnard Castle School headmaster’s advice to leave school and concentrate on his dairy herd.

His son, David Peat, said his father was already milking cows before and after school and often recalled delivering milk from Marden Dairy.

“When he moved from a churn and ladle, to milk bottles for the first time, his customers were very upset because they did not get a little extra for luck,” Mr Peat said.

“He took great pride in showing his Ayrshire cows. At this time he founded the Barnard Castle branch of the Young Farmers Club, and was its president for many years.”

Mr Peat married his childhood sweetheart, Margaret Brown, in 1947 and they were happily married for almost 60 years.

The couple had four children, David, John, Katherine and Roger while he was also very proud of his nine grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren; the last of whom was born a few days before he died.

Although he always regarded himself as a farmer first and foremost, when his father took ill, Mr Peat stepped overnight into running the family butchers and bakers business, which he continued to do until his retirement.

The business is the oldest butchers in Teesdale and has also won multiple awards over the years for its products.

On his retirement, Mr Peat’s son, Roger Peat took over the business while son, John Peat, ran the farm where much of the produce sold in their original farm shop was reared.

Mr Peat was an active member of St Mary’s Parish Church and churchwarden for many years.

He was a longstanding member of the Rotary Club and enjoyed playing golf on a regular basis.

He loved Teesdale and walked every week until in his eighties, and was still driving at 90.

Mr Peat said his father was “very caring” and that growing up on a farm was “special” while the family used to go on holidays in a caravan around Europe.

Mr Peat spent his last three years in the Manor House Care Home, in Barnard Castle, and his family said he was “full of praise for the care he received from the staff there”.

He passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 4 and a funeral was held at St Mary’s Church, in Barnard Castle, yesterday.