SECOND WORLD WAR HERO'S WORDLY GOODS TO GO UNDER THE HAMMER...

PACKING UP TO MOVE ABROAD - AT NEARLY 90

At the grand age of 89, John Asher is beginning a new life.  Sick of cold winters, he is selling up almost everything he owns and moving to Spain, where he says he will have no worries "apart from staying alive".

Mr. Asher will take almost nothing with him when he starts afresh in Torrevieja on the Costa Blanca.  For the past few months he has been emptying his home in Honiton, East Devon, of a lifetime's possessions.

Many tell fascinating stories about Mr. Asher's life, from his pivotal role in the D-Day landings to his years as a publican with his wife, Peggy, who sadly died three years ago.

Mr. Asher has been going to Spain for the last 20 years, and when he and his wife retired they would spend four months there every winter.   Last winter, Mr. Asher returned to Spain as usual and decided next time he went back it would be for good.

He said, "I'm renting a furnished apartment from friends, and apart from the clothes I'm wearing I'll having nothing.   It will be a great relief".

But it will be a wrench to see certain cherished belongings go.   He said:  "The hard part is getting rid of everything.  I realised the upheaval it was going to be from the memories point of view.   But I thought, my memories have got to stay up here, in my head."

The final step in leaving his old life behind comes when Tiverton auctioneers Chilcott's will disperse the remaining treasured antiques and collectables.

Among them is a Royal Navy clock that was with Mr. Asher when he commanded a craft clearing Juno Beach in France for the D-Day landings.

The vessel was bombarded by two German gun emplacements on the beach, one shell blew off the port bow.  But both craft and commander survived, and when the vessel was decommissioned in Portsmouth some months later, Mr. Asher kept the deck clock as a memento.

He also kept the Admiralty Chart of the North Coast of France which he carried with him on the assault.  This will be sold too and has been valued at £200 - £300.

Two days after VE Day, Mr. Asher was commanding another vessel which was ordered to assist in an assault on Japan.  This was cancelled when the Americans dropped the atomic bomb.

Mr. Asher was eventually demobilised but was called back to serve a further two years in the Far East.

When he finally returned home, Mr and Mrs Asher, who had married in 1940, began their career as publicans, first at The Chequers Inn in West Sussex, then The Gun Inn, near Worthing, and finally La Cigale, a private club and restaurant, also in Worthing.

During his time as a publican Mr Asher built up an impressive collection of original Guinness memorabilia, which will also be on sale at Chilcott's.

Mr. and Mrs Asher were married for 63 years before she passed away and Mr Asher said their marriage had to be strong to survive their years as publicans, when they worked long hours together, with little social life.

Nevertheless, Mr. Asher has found memories of that time, particularly of running The Chequers Inn, which was frequented by a number of celebrities of the day.

Mr. Asher will be leaving many memories behind in England, but he says he cannot wait to leave.  And he does not think 90 is too old to be starting again.   He said: "I don't feel 90.  As long as you've got reasonable health, age is an attitude of mind".