THE MAN who brought a taste of South Africa to Petersfield’s palates has died after an illness, aged 64.

Donald Dodson was a much-loved stall-holder at the town’s Saturday market where he sold his traditional South African food for 12 years.

He was known as the ‘sausage man’ for his popular traditional South African sausages, boereworsand, and loved passing on his passion for his meat produce.

At a memorial service held in his home village of Liss before Christmas, more than 100 people attended, many of them his loyal customers.

“He was the most honest, fun-loving guy you could ever wish to meet. He was someone who made everyone feel at ease,” said his son, Neil, who lives in Petersfield and runs Simply African Food Limited with other family members.

“There was always banter at the market, and he never let anything get him down. We would be there every Saturday, come sun, snow or sunshine.”

The company, which has a wholesale factory in College Street, Petersfield, was started up in 2003, borne out of Donald’s longing for the food of his homeland including biltong, a dried, cured meat.

He started experimenting with seasonings, and took the market stall later that year.

“The community was spellbound by these new tastes and his stall grew more popular by the week,” said Neil, and his brothers Kevin and Bradley, who both live in Chicago, in Donald’s eulogy.

“He leaves behind a legacy and a lust for flavoursome food that has brightened our palates, and although he will be sorely missed on the market for his love for the products he produced and his entertaining conversation, his food will live on through his family who share his passion.”

Donald was born in Pretoria in 1951, and became a lieutenant in the South African Defence Force. He went on to study oceanography in Cape Town where he met Lyn, his wife of 40 years.

They moved to Johannesburg in 1979, and then to London in 1999 on a work relocation. Simply African Food Ltd, now a thriving family business, was founded four years later.

Donald died in December, 18 months after being diagnosed with cancer. He leaves Lyn, Neil, Kevin, Bradley, and seven grandchildren.