Anna Edwards

anna.edwards@essnmedia.co.uk

CROYDON'S oldest allotment keeper has died – just 20 days before he was due to celebrate his 104th birthday.

Bill Hayman, of Devonshire Road, West Croydon, spent all his life in the borough and from 1939 until the end of 2009 was a keen member of Selhurst and South Norwood Allotment Society.

But in October last year the independent great-grandfather was viciously attacked by a thug who barged into his home, threw him to the floor and robbed him of a paltry £12.

Bill's family say he never fully recovered from the assault, with his health gradually declining before he died at Croydon University Hospital (the former Mayday) on August 15.

His son, also called Bill, and daughter Marion Grabham say their father lived a "full life".

Bill was born in Beulah Grove, Thornton Heath, and attended St Saviours School and John Ruskin School, before working in the City as an office worker at LEP Transport from 1925 until he retired.

In 1933 he married his childhood sweetheart, Doris Bates, who lived a few doors away.

Marion said: "My mother was the great love of his life. They were married for 59 years and he missed her so much following her death in 1992.

"He often talked about the happy times they spent together, particularly their holidays.

"His other loves were his family, Crystal Palace and, of course, his allotment. He would spend many evenings and every weekend on his plot and later became the society's president.

"He was a well-known figure. travelling there by bus on most days during his retirement.

"He supported the Eagles from childhood. He attended matches into his 80s and the last thing he asked on the day he died was the result of the match the previous day."

During the Second World War Bill became an air raid warden and on one occasion climbed a tree and carried down a live parachute incendiary bomb.

Marion says her father was a true family man. She added: "He was extremely proud of his grandchildren, and tried to understand their use of modern technology, but didn't always succeed.

"In the last few years he took great delight in his five great-grandchildren. We will all miss him."

His funeral took place on Wednesday.

A police spokesman said officers were still trying to trace the thug who attacked Bill.

He said. "A man in his thirties was arrested in connection with this incident but was later released without charge. No further arrests have occurred."