Tribute to former Bury St Edmunds dairies manager John Webb, 85, who 'loved a chat'

A man of many careers who will be fondly remembered by many as the manager of St Edmunds Dairies has died.

Tributes have been paid to John Webb, of Bury St Edmunds, who managed the dairies in Western Way for more than 20 years throughout the 1970s and 1980s.

The distinctive father-of-two, who was six feet five-and-a-half and very slim, died at West Suffolk Hospital on June 18 aged 85.

John was born into a farming family in a small Essex village called Wix. Determined not to follow the family tradition, once he had completed his National Service in the RAF he moved to Bury.

His daughter Helen Tilbrook said her father initially paid the bills by gardening and window cleaning, before getting a job at the Farmers’ Club.

This was swiftly followed by a job at St Edmund’s Dairies. In his role as manager, John organised social events such as Christmas parties, pantomime trips and a treasure hunt for the staff and their families.

He also covered milk rounds when milkmen were off.

“People would remember him calling for money or running milk out to them,” said Helen.

“I remember as a child helping him on a Sunday doing the Timworth round. It took ages because he loved a chat or to stop for a cup of tea.”

John was also a keen snooker player and in later years a snooker referee. He was a member of the Railway Club, the Heron Club and Pot Black Club.

When John left the dairy he moved to Great Yarmouth to run his own guest house, only to return to Bury when he retired.

On his return he moved to Beetons Lodge, in Beetons Way until his death.

Helen added: “My dad was quite a character and even when he was in hospital people were still asking me if he used to be the dairy manager, so he obviously stuck in people’s minds.”

He also leaves a son, Chris, and four grandchildren.

His funeral is on July 18 at 3pm at West Suffolk Crematorium, in Risby (funeral directors: Armstrongs).