A FAMILIAR face to many in Farnham, cobbler Raymond Maxwell Foster (known widely as Max), has died aged 75 at home with his wife Margaret and family by his side.

Max served 22 years in the British Army, but was best known in the town for his many years running traditional shoe repair shop RH Foster at 51 Downing Street, set up in 1952 by Max’s father Raymond.

He was an extremely prominent character in the community and described by his family as being always on hand to help, highly regarded as a mentor and prized for his advice.

Max was an avid football fan, and enjoyed all football whoever was playing - but especially Spurs. He also enjoyed supporting his grandson at Badshot Lea Football Club and was a great lover of dogs, with a faithful pooch never being far from his shop.

Born in Castle Douglas, Scotland on June 17, 1943, the eldest child of Ray and Susan Foster, Max moved south with his family when he was approximately five years old, following the Second World War.

He attended school at Yeomans Bridge (now Ash Manor) while living in Prospect Road, Ash.

At age 14, Max and his family moved to Farnham, where he worked in a car racing stables and studied motor mechanics.

Max also worked in the family shoe repair shop around this time, learning from his granddad who had owned and run a cobblers’ shop in Ash, thought to have existed since the late 1800s, and occasionally working alongside his father too.

Max later followed in his father’s footsteps, who was involved in the Arnhem airbourne landings during the war, and joined the Corps of Royal Engineers in 1961, putting his mechanical skill set to use and escaping the confines of the local area.

Max was an amphibious engineer in Germany during the Cold War and served 14 of his 22 years in service there, finishing his career in October 1983.

Max greatly enjoyed his time in service, forming lifelong friendships and refining the sense of humour he was well renowned for.

He also met his wife, Margaret, in 1964 while still in the army and the couple married in 1966. Their first son, Stuart, was born in 1970, with their second Duncan following in 1974.

Max returned to Farnham after his military service to take over the family business in Downing Street with Margaret on January 1, 1984.

He always referred to himself as a ‘high class shoe repairer’, using the traditional methods of a true craftsman.

The pair had a vast array of returning customers which contributed greatly to their large presence and reputation in the area.

Two rubber Phillips advertising men, demonstrating the shoe craftsman at work, were perpetually displayed by the shop. These dated back to the 1920s having come from Max’s grandfather’s shop in Ash.

The shop remained in business until December 1, 2007, when the couple decided that it was time to retire after 41 years. They kept the advertising men as family heirlooms.

Their children were uninterested in continuing the business, but it was a personal decision as well, allowing for the couple to spend more time with their grandchildren - Stuart’s son, Callum, aged 20, and Duncan’s son, Owen, age 16 - and in the garden.

Max and Margaret’s eldest son Stuart did follow in his father’s footsteps in another way, however, embarking on a full military career in the Royal Corps of Signals.

An embroidered panel in the shop commemorated Max’s time in the army, and he retained strong links with the military as an honorary mess member at Gibralter Barrack. He was also an active member of the Royal Engineer Association Minley branch.

Max was also introduced to the masonic lodge in 1983 and enjoyed being an active member of the community, frequenting three masonic lodges and attending many others.

His funeral will be held on August 30 at The Royal Garrison Church of All Saints, Aldershot at 12 noon followed by a service at the crematorium for family members only. The family’s chosen funeral directors are HC Patrick of Farnham.