CATTLE breeder, Gerald Dicker, of Old Jockey near Box, died on February 21 aged 69.

In 1994 Mr Dicker fulfilled a lifelong ambition to breed pedigree Hereford cattle when with his wife Irene he founded a small herd based at Crossroads Farm, which he gradually expanded over the years.

Mr Dicker began showing in 1996 and his first triumph was to have the Reserve Champion Hereford at Frome Show with his first home-bred heifer. A member of the South Western Hereford Cattle Breeders Association, he was a respected stockman who took pride in the presentation of his cattle. With the help of Mrs Dicker and his step-grandson Ashley, Mr Dicker was a keen exhibitor at the region's principal shows and had some notable successes, including champions at Okehampton, Alton and Frome.

In 2004 his animal won sixth place in a very strongly contested class of 14 bulls at the National Hereford Show in Worcestershire. Perhaps his proudest achievements were winning the award for the Best Heifer Calf in the South Western Association's small herd category in both 2004 and 2005, when he was also runner-up in the Best Small Herd competition.

The full congregation and warm tributes at his funeral service at West Ashton Church on March 1 were testimony to his influence and popularity.