The death of a popular fishmonger who ran the county’s ‘mini Billingsgate’ has been met with sadness.

Herman Broekhuizen set up Herman’s Plaice in Faversham more than 20 years ago.

It became the go-to shop for customers from far and wide, both domestic and trade, earning it the nickname ‘Mini Billingsgate’ and dozens of five-star Google reviews.

One wrote: “My mum, who lives in Surrey, gets me to buy her two large bags of whelks shell on prawns every week, as well as smoked haddock which is really thick and tasty.”

“The best seafood seller in Kent,” said another.

Herman would travel to London’s Billingsgate fish market in the early hours five mornings a week to get his supplies, as well as sourcing local catch.

“He worked hard all his life and was passionate about the business,” said his wife of 50 years, Connie, who helped behind the scenes with the administration.

Their first shop was at Macknade in Selling Road before moving to the Standard Quay about 14 years ago.

Yet he never was an ardent fish eater himself, says Connie.

“Perhaps he would have it once a week, but I guess it’s like being a baker, who probably doesn’t eat cake every day, “ she said.

“It’s just different when you work daily with produce.”

Herman developed cancer in March and lost his fight with the disease on September 27, aged 73.

As well as Connie, he leaves a son, Garry and two daughters, Shirley and Sandra, and three grandchildren.

Herman sold the business, which retains the same name, when he became too ill to work earlier this year.

But the family connection continues with both Sandra and now his eldest grandson Oliver working at the shop.

It was with produce from the land rather than the sea where Herman started his working life in greenhouses in his native Holland, before the couple moved to the UK in the late 70s.

“Herman had always planned to continue working until he was 75, and was very frustrated to have to give it up….”

He began working in greenhouses in Sussex and then on a farm in Kent before becoming a fish delivery driver for a Whitstable wholesaler.

It was when he was approached by Macknade, who asked if he could deliver stock to the site, that he saw the opportunity to open his own fishmongers in 2003.

He grew the business to become what it is today with a countywide reputation for its variety of fish and shellfish.

“Herman had always planned to continue working until he was 75, and was very frustrated to have to give it up,” said Connie.

“Sadly, it didn’t work out the way he hoped and he never got to enjoy his retirement.”

The family is still making funeral arrangements and no date has yet been set.