'SO special' is how one customer described a furniture restorer who, at the age of 89, has finally hung up his tools at Fatherford Farm, Okehampton.

Roy Stagg's workshop is full of shelves lined with tins and bottles of paint, stains, powders and polishes. It is a workshop whose wood shaving-covered floor tells a story of its life, as well as that of its owner.

Roy left his Croydon school at the age of 14 and fought in world war two before marrying in 1951. He then fulfilled a lifelong dream and moved to the West Country, a place he had often visited as a child with his grandmother.

Roy moved first to Somerset, where he worked for a number of years with local builders and craftsmen, and it was here that he developed his love and skill for woodwork.

In the early 70s Roy moved to West Devon.

He said: 'I was moving around putting my own properties right and increasing their value. I suppose it was my way of bettering myself.

'A while later, I decided I wanted to take up restoration, so I set up a workshop in the front room of our house, opposite the church in South Tawton. I don't know that my wife appreciated that!'

Roy has worked at Fatherford Farm since the mid 1980s, initially employed by Alan Jones Antiques, before taking on his current workshop around 15 years ago.

Customer Valerie Evans said: 'Roy is there in all weathers in that little workshop, warmed only by a single gas heater. I've gone to take a piece to him in the middle of January when it's freezing outside, and been amazed to find him in his workshop tinkering away.

'He is so skilled, and so special.'

Roy will miss his workshop and customers: 'So many of them are now good friends. I can ring them up and have a chat any time. They do seem a little sorry that I'm going; they keep saying they'll pop in and say hello when they're passing.

'I don't think they can quite get used to the fact I won't be here.

'In a way I will be sorry to finish, as this has been my way of life for so long, but I've got some lovely memories, and I'm looking forward to my home comforts. It feels the right time to finish.

'Retirement will be another adventure.'

Roy now lives with his son, daughter in law and three grandchildren, who call him 'Gagga'.

'It's lovely living with my family,' said Roy. 'The children are growing up knowing me. I'm so lucky, and I reckon they keep me young.'

'I honestly think it's that, along with being busy, that keeps me going. The minute you just sit in a chair and watch television all day, that's when you start to degenerate. That's the end of the line.

'Having said that, I do love sport, particularly cricket, and watching that is one of the few beauties of television!

'Modern Britain has changed: when I was a lad we could roam free. I feel sorry for children these days, wrapped in cotton wool and sat in front of the television. Mind you, some of the change has been for the better: education for a start.

'I've had my run and I've enjoyed life. Life is an interesting journey.'