THE son of the late, well-known Ilminster clock maker Ronnie McQueen says he is proud to be able to continue the family business.

Mr McQueen Snr died peacefully on April 2 at the age of 69, and a funeral service was held for him on Tuesday morning.

Born and bred in Liverpool, he became an apprentice bricklayer and followed the work to Somerset with his wife and three children.

Unfortunately, an accident rendered him disabled, which led him to learn watch and clock making at Exeter.

After a short time learning the trade, he opened his own business in Ilminster in 1978 which went from strength to strength, and later became president of the Chamber of Commerce.

There he founded the Ilminster Christmas Lights Committee with Mike Bonner, and was recently humbled to be presented the Ilminster Citizen of the Year award.

His son, Glenn, told The News: ā€œIā€™m proud to continue the family business in the hope I can maintain the success my father gained in making this one of the longest running businesses in Ilminster.

He will be sadly missed, but hopefully remembered for his unique Scouse sense of humour.ā€