The funeral service of a man known widely and affectionately as "Frank the milkman", who served the community of South Oxhey for more than half a century, will be held at West Herts Crematorium in Garston at 3pm tomorrow.

Frankie Almond Winch was born in 1930, the only son of William and Annie. He grew up in Desmond Road, north Watford, with sisters Rosie, Queenie and Peggie.

He attended Leggatts School, from time to time, but openly admitted his heart was not in a formal education.

He found ingenious ways to avoid the classroom, including hiding on the porch roof so his mother assumed he had gone to school. Once the coast was clear, he would jump down and nip off to play football.

As the only boy in the family and being full of mischief, Frank kept his sisters on their toes.

On one occasion he tied Rosie to a tree in the park. He denied all knowledge of her whereabouts but eventually his conscience got the better of him and he released her.

Frank played football for his school and a number of local teams. He spoke with great affection about playing with real leather balls with laces in them and real leather football boots.

He said: "Only real men could head the ball and ride a tackle in those days".

At the age of 16, shortly after the end of the Second World War, Frank joined the army and was billeted to Catterick.

By the age of 18 he was driving 50 ton Centurion tanks.

On one occasion, he was on a landing craft. Before it could reach the beach, it hit a sandbank and the impact caused the ramp to fly open. Commands were issued to drive the tank off the craft and Frank duly obliged. Unfortunately, the other side of the sandbank lay in much deeper water and soon waves were flooding into the tank.

With the water rising to his waist, his captain yelled "Have faith, Winchie - have faith".

Frank kept driving until they reached the beach. He seemed to carry that faith and inner belief in later years and instilled it in his sons, encouraging them to meet whatever challenges came their way.

His military service took him to Germany for two years, when he enjoyed the camaraderie and this phase of his life.

Frank was quick witted, loved to laugh and made many friends. He worked hard and played hard, an attitude he maintained throughout his life.

Following his demobbing in the early 50s, Frank went to work at H. Kinghams and Son grocery store in Watford High Street.

It was here that he met his first wife Barbara. They married and had two sons, David and Richard.

Frank became a milkman in the early 1950s, a job he held for 30 years. Everybody knew Frank the milkman and he became one of the area’s most enduring characters.

He worked first for LCS (London Co-operative Service) and later for Braziers Daries.

He was assisted over the years by many boys and girls who would help deliver milk round the block for a "tanner".

He had a profound effect on many of them, helping shape their characters with his indefatigable optimism, generosity and warmth. He really was, for them, the "milkman of human kindness".

Frank’s popularity continued during the 20 years he worked as a taxi driver on the estate but, even then, he retained the moniker "Frank the milkman".

He was a committee member at Watford Labour Club and his personal commitment to its profitability ensured the bar takings remained high.

In his retirement Frank loved to work on his allotment with his second wife, Jan. He would often spend time there alone, enjoying the solitude.

Frank was diagnosed with cancer in 2010, an illness he fought with his usual optimism and strong will.

In recent months if you asked him how he was he would reply: "I’m still kicking!" He passed away on Saturday, February 21, at his home in Bushey.

He is survived by his widow Janet, sons David and Richard, daughters-in-law and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.