TRIBUTES have been paid today to a well- known newsagent who has died at the age of 69. Graham Spall retired eight years ago after running the family business, Spalls, in Foxhall Road, Ipswich for more than 40 years.

TRIBUTES have been paid today to a well- known newsagent who has died at the age of 69.

Graham Spall retired eight years ago after running the family business, Spalls, in Foxhall Road, Ipswich for more than 40 years. He died at Anglesea Heights on May 27 following an illness.

The Spall legacy began soon after the war when Mr Spall's father Horace was invalided out of the army. He worked a few brief years with the former owner before seizing the opportunity to make the store his own family enterprise.

At the age of 16 Mr Spall went from Northgate School to WS Cowell, where he learnt the printing trade. He stayed with the firm for almost three years before going back to complete his national service in the Royal Air Force.

After that he returned to Suffolk and worked in his father's shop. He eventually took over when his father retired and spent the next 40 years enduring early starts and long weeks.

The shop changed a lot over the years to cope with the social changes and they started to sell convenience foods on top of the usual newsagent goods.

On retiring, he told The Evening Star: “Don't get me wrong I've got some great memories, met some wonderful people and could still recall all sorts of stories about the different families who lived and worked close to my shop.

“I just think that this is my time and it's up to someone else to take the shop from here.”

After retiring, his wife Christine said he pursued his interests, which included gardening, golfing, and fishing. They also used to go on holiday to Portugal every year.

Mrs Spall, of Bucklesham Road, said: “He will be most remembered for working hard and playing hard. He enjoyed life and was very keen on sport.

“He will be really missed.”

He also leaves behind his three children, Alison, Christopher and Emma, and four grandchildren.

His funeral will be at 10.15am on Tuesday, June 9, at Ipswich Crematorium. All those who knew him are welcome to attend.

Would you like to pay tribute to Mr Spall? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.