THE OWNER of a well-known greengrocers has died at the age of 89.

Rupert Horscraft, of Newhaven, passed away on September 7. He was remembered as a hardworking family man with a cheeky sense of humour. Rupert was a well-loved man in and out of Newhaven. He is remembered for his days at Horscraft Greengrocery shops in South Road and Chapel Street.

He was born on January 17, 1929, to Arthur and Edith in Convent Cottages, Newhaven and he attended school locally.

He and his siblings were evacuated to Barcombe when the Second World War broke out. They remained there for four years. His parents travelled up there every Sunday from Newhaven by horse and cart to see them. Rupert can be seen in the video footage at Newhaven’s Fort’s Home Front Exhibition speaking about his memories of the war. After leaving school, Rupert’s first job was at Eastwood Cement Works in Lewes. He then worked at family’s greengrocery business. In 1946, they purchased land in Denton to grow fruit and vegetables for their thriving shops in town.

The shop had a motto, which was “take the food to the people”, so Rupert helped drive a bus around to deliver to customers. The business continued to grow. They supplied fruit and vegetables to the cross-Channel boats, and to more customers including a fish and chip shop, hairdressers and a garage repair workshop.

His son, Robert, 63, said: “Everyone seemed to know my dad. He outlived his five brothers and sister, including his fellow triplets Horace and Teresa. First and foremost he was a family man. He missed my mum since her passing in 2004, and often told the story of when they first met at the greengrocers. Apparently he looked at her and his first thought was ‘she’s a peach’.”

Rupert married Marjorie in 1948 and they had four children, Raymond, Andrew, and twins Robert and Janice.

The greengrocers, which closed in 1972 after Arthur retired.

Rupert continued supplying fruit and vegetables to his customers, sourcing the products from the family’s plots of land.

Marjorie worked as a care assistant and matron.

He also loved to tinker with the numerous motorcars he bought and sold over the years.

In his later life he enjoyed pottering around Robert’s garage in Railway, Newhaven.

The couple lived in Chailey before retiring to Richington Way, in Seaford.

Rupert enjoyed entertaining his family and visiting friends, many of whom he had known since his childhood.

Rupert was taken ill in June after suffering a stroke. Earlier this month he contracted a chest infection which became pneumonia. He died in hospital with members of his family at his bedside. He leaves 49 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, all of whom remember him as someone with a cheeky sense of humour and a huge love of life.

His funeral will take place at St Michael’s Church, Newhaven on Thursday at 1.30pm, followed by a cremation at Downs Crematorium, in Brighton, at 3pm.