THE QUEEN of an East End pie and mash empire has been left "absolutely devastated" by the sudden death of her husband.  

Owner of Robins Pie and Mash in Wanstead High Street June Allpress says her family are "still in shock" after her husband of 57 years Tommy died on April 1. 

The 79-year-old died after a major operation on an anyeurism at a private hospital in central London. 

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His funeral at the City of London Crematorium in Aldersbrook on Monday (April 24) was packed out with more than 300 people, who came from as far as China and Australia to say goodbye. 

The family's pie and mash shops in Wanstead, Chingford, Romford, Basildon, and Southend were all closed to mark the occasion. 

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She said: "We're all absolutely devastated, I still can't believe it. 

"He went in and we were told he'd be in intensive care for 24 hours, recovery for five days, then we could bring him home. 

"He was completely fit and well, he even took the books in to do after the operation." 

Mrs Allpress opened her first shop in Queen's Road, Upton Park 51 years ago and had counted on her beloved Tommy to buy "the best potatoes and parsley" to make her pie and mash ever since. 

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The couple were introduced in 1957 at her aunt Lottie's house in Seagry Road, Wanstead when they were both just 19. 

Mrs Allpress was working at department store Harvey Nichols and her husband-to-be had a fruit and veg business and a car showroom in Essex.

They got married three years later and went on to have three children: Thomas, now 49, Melanie, 54, and Julie, 52. 

After Mr Allpress gave up running his own fruit and veg business 20 years ago he carried on going to market almost every day to get all his wife's fresh produce. 

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She said: "I trusted him completely. He was so honest and full of integrity. 

"He would only ever buy the best parsley for my liquor and potatoes for my mash. 

"I'd never sell anything I wouldn't eat myself. If you don't have the right potato you don't have a business, and he knew that.  

"He was such a remarkable man and was loved by everyone who knew him. 

"We're in complete agony now he's gone."