ONE of Porlock’s best-known characters, former milkman Robert Shopland, died on Christmas Eve, aged 80.

Hundreds of people took to social media to pay tribute to Robert and to express their condolences to his family.

As well as being a popular milkman for 31 years, Robert played the organ in local churches for more than half a century, started Porlock Pantomime Society and played the dame, and worked for 13 years in the Tesco petrol station, in Minehead.

Robert Shopland pictured on his last day as a Porlock milkman before retiring.
Robert Shopland pictured on his last day as a Porlock milkman before retiring. ( )

Robert’s son Adrian said: “After fighting valiantly for seven years against cancer, he peacefully passed away in the early hours, at home, in his chair, with mum by his side.

“Just as he wanted.”

Robert was born in Bossington and raised in Allerford by parents Ronald ‘Geoff’ Shopland and Mildred ‘Mary’ Shopland, the eldest of four, with siblings Charlie, Elizabeth, and Richard.

He attended Allerford School, and later West Somerset School, and started a part-time job in Minehead grocery shop Bachelors, which became full-time, while he also worked evenings in the ticket office and as an usher in the Regal Cinema.

The late Robert Shopland with his wife Rosemarie.
The late Robert Shopland with his wife Rosemarie. ( )

It was while working for Bachelors and doing rounds delivering orders that Robert met Rosemarie Salter, who worked worked as a child’s nanny.

They were in their late teens, and eventually married in 1968 in Selworthy Church.

Robert also played the church organ from a young age for more than 50 years, starting in Lynch Chapel and moving on to Selworthy, with Tivington, and becoming the regular organist in St Dubricius, Porlock, for many years.

After their marriage the couple moved in 1969 to Bay Road, Porlock, where they continued to live.

Robert was a keen gardener, right up to his final days, and became involved in the local flower show.

He became the local milkman with Leaches in 1969, getting up at about 2 am six days a week, and sometimes not returning home until late afternoon, moving on to Horlicks, in Minehead, and then Unigate until hanging up his milk crate in 2000.

Porlock's Robert Shopland (right) with brothers Charlie and Richard.
Porlock's Robert Shopland (right) with brothers Charlie and Richard. ( )

Robert would often break off his milk round to play the church organ at funerals and weddings.

He was so intent on making sure customers received their milk deliveries, even when Porlock was suffering deep snow drifts, that he was known to carry crates of milk up Porlock Hill on foot.

In 1973 Robert formed the pantomime society and not only worked behind the scenery but was always the dame on stage, where a comedy double act with his great friend Graham ‘Biffo’ Floyd became legendary.

He continued putting on shows twice a year, two nights in February and a three-night run in August, including a matinee, often attracting visiting coachloads of audience members, until stopping in 1993.

Robert also decorated his home with Christmas lights annually and took collections for charity, and was involved with the village carnival and late night Christmas shopping.

Robert and Rosemarie had a daughter, Vanessa, and son, Adrian, and six grandsons, Liam, 25, Nathan, 22, Ajay, 20, Jeremy, 20, and twins Jake and Theo, 17.