Colin

Since retirement 82-year-old Colin has found a wealth of community, friends and new interests at the Ivybridge Library. 

Colin spent a lifetime working in sales and travelled the world.  He based himself living in Hong Kong importing and exporting building materials for three years where he secured a contract for swimming pool tiles for the Olympic Games in Australia.  He moved to Ivybridge with his wife Carole 26 years ago. 

"The Ivybridge Library has been the saving grace of many folk and it has been very special to me.  It all started when I went to the official opening by Princess Anne. Once I retired I took over the running of the Ivybridge Memory Café where there were around 35 guests each week. In 2019 I was awarded the Ivybridge Citizen of the Year for his work with the Memory Café. Most of the people who came to the Memory Café were living with dementia and I made very close friends with a number of them and their families." 

As a child Colin took no interest in history lessons, but since retirement and his visits to the library he has found history extremely interesting with the number and range of books available.  

"In particular I enjoy reading books on the Special Operations Executive which was organised by Winston Churchill when teams of people, mainly women, went into France in World War II. I also enjoy reading a considerable number of good novels. 

"The library has other facilities and I was amazed to see during the winter months they have two racks of warm coats available for anyone to take away and make use of.  The Watermark Café are happy to bring tea, coffee and snacks into the library for their customers.  The cinema is in the same building and my wife and I have enjoyed watching many films.  Many people I have met either in the cinema or library have become good friends. I attend the library for a couple of hours, once or twice a week. 

"I've observed many groups and families in the library getting together and enjoying a wonderful time partaking in activities. The extremely helpful staff are so kind and caring with people of all ages. I've noticed the friendships formed with a great number of people particularly during the winter months. If a specific book isn't available in the library the team do everything possible to get a copy, they're so dedicated and caring."