WHEN unexpected redundancy forced welder/fabricator Roger Rance into early retirement at the age of 55, positive changes were to follow.
He and his wife Christine upped sticks from their native West London to settle in Bovey Tracey and help out at their daughter’s nearby pub.
Soon after, Roger spotted an ad for a part-time Grounds man with the Town Council and thought it might help supplement his pension for a while.
He applied and now, aged 81, he’s still in the job, having clocked up 25 years and the respect of his colleagues and the community.
‘I know it’s a cliche, but I’ve loved every minute of it,’ he said.
One highlight of his time in the role was planting the avenue of hornbeam trees that now look magnificent in the cemetery.
Another mark Roger has left on his adopted home is the row of hanging baskets that line Station Road - he made each and every one of them.
‘I brought my workshop with me when we moved so I still do a bit of that and have a stall at the Widdecombe Market every fortnight,’ he said.
‘It’s only a hobby and I don’t make any money out of it, but it’s nice when a poker I’ve made gets sent to Australia or somewhere, things like that.’
Back on the job and Roger can often be seen around town with his colleague Peter Stanyon, emptying bins, planting flower beds and generally looking after the place.
They also still dig, by hand, graves for cremation burials.
One job that Roger is pleased has passed into history is getting up at 4am to water the flower displays.
‘You had to get up early to avoid the traffic and I did that for about 15 years but got too old for it,’ he quipped.
Driving through town or emptying the bins, Roger is grateful to those people who wave or wish him a good day.
‘You do get some nice comments and generally people are very complimentary about what we do which is to be welcomed,’ he said.
About carrying on further into his 80s, the great granddad added: ‘Well, I think, what’s the point of packing up?
‘I can’t really see myself with a pipe and slippers just yet. My health’s holding out, it’s just my knees that have gone from years of kneeling on concrete as a welder/fabricator.
‘I’ve been told I could have the first operation in about 18 months but it’s a long old job and I think as long as the pain’s not too bad and I can still get about I’ll carry on as I am.’
He concluded: ‘I love living here, I love working here, and I’ve been so lucky with the people I’ve worked with.
‘There’s something special about working for the place you live in, it gives you much more incentive to do a proper job.’
Mayor Cllr Sheila Brooke said: ‘We’re so grateful to Roger for his 25 years of fantastic work for our community.
‘May he long carry on setting an example about the value of commitment and professionalism in whatever role we take in life, and, to proving that service with a smile is always possible, no matter what the challenge.’
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