THE man known as Mere's singing butcher is celebrating 40 years in business this month.

Robert Nurden, whose shop is in the town's Church Street, said that from an early age there were three things he wanted out of life - to become a singer, to own his own home and to run his own business.

He has achieved all three: his bass baritone voice has made him a popular figure in churches and concert halls around the district, he has a house in Church Street and has now notched up 40 years in business.

He learned his trade from his grandfather, with whom he cycled around Oxfordshire and the surrounding area, killing pigs for people who kept them in their gardens.

"We would kill three or four and then cycle back the next day and cut them up," said Mr Nurden (62), who is also a trained fishmonger.

"You got half a crown and a joint.

"As soon as the local children heard the gun go off they would be there waiting for the bladder - my grandfather would empty it, blow it up, tie it up with string and they would use it to play football.

"I have still got that gun, which was given to me in 1964.

"I did all this in the school holidays, as well as ploughing, combining and seed drilling, to earn the money to go into business."

At the age of 12 he started working in a butcher's shop in Chipping Norton, the town where his great grandfather had had a shop, and took it over at the age of 21 with business partner Michael Bell, for whom he used to kill pigs.

"Lots of people said to me 'you won't last', but I proved them wrong," he said.

"After three years I made a profit of £29 and ten shillings and my weekly takings were £120."

In 1967 the shop was compulsorily purchased because the street was being widened and Mr Nurden bought his first house and branched out on his own with a lock-up shop in Aston, near Witney, where he remained in business until 1986.

He had also had shops in Burford and Northleach.

Musically, he began as a boy soprano and his music teacher took him to village halls to perform.

Later he had his voice trained and was invited to sing at a number of venues, where he saw Pam Ayres reading her poems - before she became famous.

In Mere, he has used his voice to raise hundreds of pounds for local charities from sponsored singing, concerts and requests from customers.

In his spare time he enjoys making walking sticks.

He met his wife, Helen, in 1981 at the wedding of her cousin and the couple moved to Mere in 1986.

Mr Nurden says he has no thoughts of retirement.

"It gets better every year," he said, "I will go on as long as I am spared.

"There's an incredible rapport with the customers - all of them are absolutely lovely and it's a pleasure to look after them."