TRIBUTES have been paid to a much-loved draftsman. Bob Packer from Abbey Meads died in December from pulmonary fibrosis, an illness which prompted him in 2018 to retire from his small business where he had drafted designs for more than 20,000 homes, pubs and nursing homes in Swindon over 45 years. The 77-year-old taught his son Nigel the trade 25 years ago and the pair worked together for decades. Nigel said: “It was an ideal job for him because he loved meeting people and helping others. He would get to know people and they’d quickly become friends, everyone loved him. “I worked with him for a long time so I’m struggling a bit now. He’s done so much for me and for the town, he was so proud of me, though at first I didn’t think I would be clever enough to do what he did but no-one could have taught me like he did.