A DEDICATED stonemason who worked for the same Halesowen firm for an amazing 73 years has finally hung up his hammer and chisel.

Edgar Wallace, known as Wal, started work at Dallows Monumental in 1946 - when he was just 14-years-old.

The 87-year-old Baggies fan became a popular face at the firm where he was known for his catchphrase 'you are a brilliant act, but you have been on too long' - something which is certainly not true of himself!

The married father-of-two daughters and grandfather-of-one finally called it a day and hung up his hammer and chisel last Friday (September 27).

Halesowen News:

Ben Bamford, whose father and uncle own the stonemasons firm in Victoria Avenue, said: "In 1997 when Wal was 65 he cut his days down to two, but he found he was bored and was getting under his wife Jen's feet at home, so he decided to do an extra day!

"I started here when I was 18 so I have grown up with Wal - he is going to be greatly missed.

"He had a very strong work ethic and didn't like letting anyone down - if there was a problem he would find a way of solving it and was great to ask for advice.

"I can count on one hand the amount of sick days he had off. He helped fix the memorials in the cemeteries and church yards, even in the winter months when it was freezing.

"He cut letters into the stone by hand with a hammer and chisel.

"We have a machine, but if we needed to match a specific style Wal would it by hand.

"He did war memorials and also uses raised lead to shape the letters - it's a very skilled job and he will be greatly missed."

Halesowen News:

Cricket fan Wal lives in Quinton - his wife Jen also used to work for Dallows.

He was presented with a leaving gift of membership to Warwickshire Cricket Club.

The firm has been owned by the same family for five generations and makes memorials, headstones, kitchen worktops, vanity tops, fireplaces and tiles.