Former Shrewsbury antiques dealer dies at age of 84
An antiques dealer who played snooker for Shropshire has died at the age of 84.
Richard Wycherley was born Shrewsbury in 1928 and attended the Stonehurst and Priory Schools in his younger years.
He died on May 17 following problems with his health, and his funeral took place on May 24.
On leaving school at the age of 16, Richard joined the family business, GR Wycherley and Sons in High Street, where he learnt the antiques trade from his father Archie.
The business was established by the family in the nineteenth century and remained in the family until the 1980s he retired.
His daughter Lorraine Robertson said: "He travelled extensively throughout the UK purchasing mainly fine pieces of furniture, china and glass. Buyers came from well beyond the county boundaries to view and purchase from The Old Curiosity Shop, which developed a fine reputation for providing some exceptional pieces."
She added that in addition to his work, her father was an accomplished salmon fisherman whose hobby had once resulted in him saving the life of a young boy who fell into the River Severn in Shrewsbury.
Mrs Robertson said: "He never spoke about it but he was fishing at the weir and this boy fell in across the river.
"The boy fell in and couldn't swim and Dad shouted to the other fishermen and went in after him.
"He couldn't reach him straight away because the river was running strong that night. But Dad knew how the river was running and got him.
"He resuscitated him and carried him home."
Mr Wycherley spent much of his life in the Copthorne area of Shrewsbury, moving to Scarborough in 2009 to be closer to his family.
Mrs Robertson said: "He had an amazing life and was an old Shrewsbury character who knew so many people in the town."
Mr Wycherley leaves a wife, Evelaine, daughter Lorraine and granddaughter Georgiana.
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