Tom Shearman

A familiar figure in flat hat, tweed jacket – a hole burning slowly in the pocket from his pipe – baggy cavalry twills, trademark Hush Puppies and battered green Land Rover, he was accustomed to taking an Aberdeen Angus bullock for a walk around the lanes of Kirk Smeaton where he had his home.

His twin sister was Judy – hence "Punch" – and reputedly the Punch and Judy Hotel in Doncaster was named after them.

Tom's grandfather – also Thomas – co-founded Shearman and Johnston in 1858, this being the auctioneering firm which held the Doncaster cattle market. It eventually changed its name to Shearmans.

Tom the grandson was sent to Charterhouse, a school which showed a certain indulgence towards individuality; and just as well because Tom displayed a distinct individuality from an early age. There were stories of water in the organ pipes, and Scouts being tied to a tree.

He entered the RAF straight from school. He trained as a pilot officer at Filey, and served in the RAF Regiment in Burma, where he was responsible, at the young age of 19, for building air strips.

On his return, he was articled to his father's firm and studied at the College of Estate Management.

He married Yvonne Marley and they lived in Kirk Smeaton, where they brought up two children, Richard and Clare.

He was at heart a country man, and had some 10 acres and stabling at Kirk Smeaton where he kept Aberdeen Angus bullocks. His favourite was Percy which learnt to drink Guinness from a bottle, sitting on his haunches like a dog, a sight which delighted the children and their friends. But Percy's end was the same as the others, a fate the family accepted with Yorkshire stoicism.

Tom's second home in the village was the Shoulder of Mutton, where he played dominoes.

He was active in local life, serving as a chairman of the Parish Council and of many local agricultural shows, and was awarded the Queen's Jubilee Medal for services to his community.

Tom's professional life was his raison d'etre. He was in the office by 7.30am every day, sitting at his vast paper-strewn desk in Scot Street, overlooking the covered market. His charismatic auctioneering and engaging personality made Doncaster market one of the most successful in Yorkshire during the second half of the last century. Thousands visited its Tuesday and Saturday markets.

He made an important contribution to the agricultural economy of the market town, while adapting to the changing climate of farming during the period.

In the early 80s he became national chairman of his Institute of Auctioneers and Valuers, was a public arbitrator and sat on many councils and boards in his field. He was a popular speaker at farming dinners in the county and was well known for his sharp wit. His integrity and intellectual ability were valued by many of his farming clients.

In the early 80s he got divorced and married Julie, who was then secretary to the Institute. They settled in Bessacar and she, along with carers in his later years, looked after him until his death at the age of 86. By then he had been absent from public life for so many years that few heard of his death. Many in the farming community, and others who had been close to him in other parts his life, were denied the opportunity of saying goodbye.

He leaves his second wife, his two children Richard and Clare, and four grandchildren.