JOSEPH Baber, known by friends and family as Joe, died aged 86 on May 29 having lived in Poulshot all his life. He was born at Dukes Farm, Poulshot on September 15 1931, the youngest son of Edwin and Molly Baber. He and his twin brother attended the local village school, then Southbroom Secondary school, Devizes and finally Nelson Haden school Trowbridge.

Upon leaving school Joe decided to support his father on the farm and so stayed at home. Joe was very fond of music, singing and dancing and would often accompany his parents to various Hunt Balls.

During these evenings they twice arrived home from the Beaufort Hunt Ball at The Grosvenor Hotel in London at 4am and Joe and his brother immediately changed into their working clothes and milked the cows ready for the early morning collection.

In August 1959, Joseph married Yvonne Paget, a farmer’s daughter from Bromham. For the next thirteen years they lived in Barley Lane, Poulshot where they raised their three children, Vernon, Adrian and Louise. It was during this time that Joe began working at Wiltshire Fire Brigade H.Q. at Potterne.

He continued helping on the farm in the mornings from 5.30am until 8am and again late into the evenings, especially in the summer time haymaking and hauling straw from the Downs.

Joe moved to the new Fire Training Centre at London Road, Devizes when it first opened and retired on September 14 1996 having completed 30 years in the Fire Service.

It was during this period that Joe and Yvonne happily accepted an invitation to a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace on July 10 1984.

Joe was passionate about the countryside. He always treasured village life, particularly Poulshot, and was very keen to preserve the past traditions as much as possible.

Joe enjoyed the simple things in life. A kind, warm hearted, sociable person, he was a great story teller with a unique sense of humour.

He was always welcoming and willing to help whenever he could. Joe was Church warden for over 30 years and a member of the Parish council for over 38 years. Joe enjoyed travelling and with his wife, visited most European countries, Thailand, Malaysia, Canada, Australia and New Zealand but he was always glad to return to Poulshot and home.

Joe played table tennis, lawn tennis and cricket and played on teams in oulshot, Keevil and Devizes.

In later years he took an umpires course and became an umpire. Joe is survived by his wife, three children and six grandchildren. His funeral is on June 19 at 10.30am in St Peter's Church, Poulshot. Family flowers only. Donations for Alzheimer's Society c/o Paul McDonald Funeral Director, The Chequers, Devizes.