IVYBRIDGE’S town crier Ian Wintersgill has explained he took on the job as he thought Fore Street was ‘too quiet’.

Since starting in the role just after Easter, Ian has become a familiar face in the town on a couple of days each week and has taken part in various events locally.

He can often be found around the Watermark, where one of his duties is to ring his bell and call people to the councillor surgeries that take place on the first and third Saturday of each month.

Ian was presented to town councillors by Chamber of Commerce chair Margaret Punchard. The reinstatement of the office of town crier – Ivybridge last had one in 1928 – was a chamber initiative, and the organisation funded his uniform. Ian said: ‘The crier job has always been a trial. I don’t know if I’m official now, but I’ve seen the council, so I guess I am.

‘I’m here to tell people what’s going on and to have that contact. I can be a conduit, to let people know what’s happening.

‘The town is approaching a really interesting time, with lots of new things. People need to know – it’s no good complaining after things have happened.’

Although Ian is from Birkenhead originally, he has lived in Ivybridge for 10 years. He says that 50 years ago he did voluntary service overseas in Uganda and the desire to help people has led to his current totally voluntary role.

He said: ‘You do what you can,’ he said.