Popular Sheffield butcher is still a cut above at the age of 86

The likeable and friendly personality works full-time in Fisher & Son family butchers on High Street in Dronfield.

The butchers was established in 1702, and it has been run by the Fisher family for 165 years.

Frank’s great-grandfather Jim took it over in 1852 before retiring in 1900.

His grandfather William then took charge and he ran it until 1955 and it was then passed down to Frank and his dad Percy in 1956.

“I’ve hardly had a day off since really,” Frank said. “Apart from going away on the odd golf holiday once in a blue moon.”

Frank never married and does not have children and admits he is not sure what will happen to his shop.

“I think I have done well to stay open for this long.

“It is a struggle – it is no use pretending anything else.

“A lot of my customers are older and when they disappear I do not get the young customers.

“We get through – put it that way.”

But Frank still enjoys his job. “I must do otherwise I wouldn’t do it,” he said. “I have done it that long it is a habit now.”

He still uses an old-fashioned till in his shop.

“Have you ever watched Open All Hours? It is exactly the same one and it still works,” he said.

Frank was born in 1930 and lived at Shirecliffe Farm, Hilltop, Dronfield.

He lived on the farm with his mum Florence, dad Percy and his older brother Bill.

“In 1938 we left the farm and my mum took over a beer shop on Hanover Street in Sheffield.

“She left that in 1942 and went to run a convenience shop on Hodgson Street,” he said.

Frank’s mum was born in Clay Cross and came from a family of 15.

“She left school at 11 and went to work on a farm,” Frank said.

“She was very good at business.”

Frank’s dad Percy was born in Dronfield and joined the Army when he was a teenager.

“He went in the Army at 16 or 17-years-old in the First World War,” Frank said.

“My grandfather William was not very happy about that because he was useful in the shop and was another pair of hands.

“When he came out of the Army my grandfather re-employed him and he went back in the business.”

Frank’s brother Bill, who was three years older than him, worked as a dentist after studying in Sheffield.

Bill was survived by his two sons – Mark, who works in international finance and Adam, who is an engineer.

“Me and Bill got on well together,” Frank said.

Frank left school when he was 14 and his first job was at a butchers firm called Daniels in Sheffield.

“They had three or four shops but I normally worked at the Hunters Bar shop until we took over this shop in 1956,” he said.

Away from work, Frank’s interests include golf and playing draughts and bridge.

“I was a decent draughts player,” he said. “I got to a final when I was 14. Through my mum and brother I started playing bridge.

“I think I was the oldest player at Sheffield Bridge Club until I had to stop.

“I think I am the oldest member of Beauchief Golf Club in Sheffield as well.”