Salute to one of the city's military experts

Even if you never went inside, the Pastimes shop on Lower Park Row was a landmark for decades, an eccentric place full of assorted military memorabilia from around the world. But owner Andy Stevens, who passed away in June, was also a leading authority on some of the most obscure aspects of Bristol's history. Here, local historian Clive Burlton pays a personal tribute to him.

- Clive Burlton

On a mission to repair a damaged badge, I met Andy Stevens and experienced the wonders of Pastimes for the first time in 1999.

The 'DCM League Badge' had belonged to my wife's late grandfather, George Pine. The Bristol Branch of the League was established in 1935. It was a welfare organisation providing support to those awarded the DCM during the First World War.

The badge was bent in half accidently when a car door closed on it after it fell from a trouser pocket. Not my pocket and not my car, but Ken Pine's. I had just started researching George's 44,000 words of memoirs and Ken, George's last remaining son, was keen to show me some of his father's effects: the League badge being a particularly treasured possession.

Ken was distraught and in an effort to provide some comfort, I offered to get the badge repaired. A friend suggested I visit a jewellers shop on Christmas Steps as they may be able to help.

I duly did, but to little avail, apart from their suggestion that I show the badge to an Andy Stevens who ran a shop just up the road. Serendipity was about to play its part.

Inside Pastimes and taking a while for my eyes to get accustomed to the unique ambient light, I eventually spotted Andy, typically sat behind a huge pile of "stuff", lovingly collected over the decades. If there was a shop counter, I couldn't see it.

Militaria and anything to do with Bristol's history and heritage was Andy's collecting mission in life.