SALTASH mobile butcher John Jefford has finally decided to retire after delivering meat to more than 170 regulars over the last 30 years. John started as a butcher's boy at the age of 15 with Harry Eggins, a butcher in Saltash's Fore Street, then after three years he joined the Co-op Butchery department in Saltash. Thirty years ago he started up his own business with his wife, Shirley. Their son Peter also spent 16 years with them, travelling around Trematon, Trehan, Forder and various parts of Saltash district. Mr Jefford decided that now he had reached 60 it was time to retire. Many tributes and gifts poured into the van on his last round on Christmas Eve as he said goodbye to his faithful customers. One customer, Hazel Greeves said: 'We will miss him as he always knew what we wanted each week.' Mr Jefford said that the customers would arrive at the van and say 'I'll have the usual,' and he knew exactly their requirements. The business was based at the old slaughter house in Burraton where the meat was cut up ready for the delivery round. Mr Jefford said he would miss all his customers but the time had come to retire and they are now looking forward to the arrival of their first grandchild this year.