TAVISTOCK'S market reeve Keith Spiers retires this Saturday after spending the last fifteen years helping develop the market into one of the best in the South West.
Mr Spiers was instrumental in the installation of heating and new lighting at the Pannier Market, and introduced themed market days.
He was proud of what had been achieved at the market in his time in charge. 'It's a successful market and something a bit different,' he said.
He said the heating and lighting improvements in the pannier market had been particularly welcome. 'The new heating and lighting brings us into the 20th Century. We used to have gas lamps and no heating whatsoever, it really was a cold place.'
Mr Spiers said he would miss a lot of things about the pannier market, not least the people. 'They are a pretty good bunch of people. There are some very talented people there,' he added.
Mr Spiers was voted Citizen of Tavistock in 1992 for improvements he made to the market which helped attract many visitors to the town.
Last Saturday stall holders and traders had a collection and presented gifts to Mr Spiers.
Mr Spiers will be succeededby John Brady, who previously managed the Armada shopping centre in Plymouth.