Harry Allen was the friendly cashier who worked at Fleetwood Pier and was a regular in the bar at the bowling club.
But in his past was his life as the country's last executioner, and friend of the more famous Albert Pierrepoint.
His widow Doris has now decided to part with a collection of his belongings, some of which are connected to his macabre calling.
They range from the black bow ties he wore for executions to the membership card for Fleetwood Sea Cadets Wardroom Mess where he was a member.
Other items include scrapbooks of newspaper cuttings, correspondence relating to executions, his execution diaries and a miniature noose made of string with the caption "as we used abroad, handmade".
Also for auction will be a pair of pliers used for adding and removing lead weights to test sandbags, prior to executions.
His widow, who still lives in Fleetwood, said she did not need the money for the items, but added: "I feel they have to find the right home. A lot of people are showing interest and I think maybe a museum would be interested.
"I would like them to go where they are seen as a part of history."
Simon Nuttall, of auctioneers Frank Marshall of Knutsford, said: "The diaries are fascinating. They give a lot of detail.
"In the early ones there is a lot of information, but as it goes on it just gives the age, weight and drop.
"Sometimes he will say 'good job, drop so-much'."
But in one part of the diary he notes: "Very good job, but should have had another two or three inches – very strong."
Mr Nuttall expects the collection to make up to £5,000 and added: "It's quite rare for items like this to be sold. I think the last lot was Albert Pierrepoint's in 1992.
"The collection will appeal to people interested in social history or anyone interested in crime and punishment."
Mr Allen applied for a job in the prison service in the 1930s, but was instead offered the job of assistant to Tom Pierrepoint, Albert's uncle,
His main occupation had been as a lorry driver. He was later a licensee in the Manchester area but moved to Fleetwood in 1977 to escape publicity.
His most famous executions included James Hanratty in 1961 and he assisted Mr Pierrepoint at the hanging of Derek Bentley in 1953, a conviction overturned in 1998.
He was also present in 1955 when Ruth Ellis was the last woman hanged in Britain.
He carried out Britain's last execution in 1964 having been chief executioner 29 times and assistant on 53 other occasions.
When Mr Pierrepoint died in 1992, Mr Allen, who died later the same year, expressed his sorrow and said: "Albert and I were old colleagues.
"We had a friendly rivalry."
And the verdict on his job: "I never felt a moment's remorse and always slept peacefully on the nights before and after a hanging."