DURING his 11 years working at Crediton’s Punchbowl Civic Amenity and Recycling Centre, Nathan Tanton has made a lot of friends and twice saved the lives of colleagues. 

Nathan left on Monday,  April 24 for a less static job - travelling the South West as mobile plant trainer for Suez. 

He grew up in Exeter and moved to Crediton more than 12 years ago.  “I was working in Exeter when they asked if I would like to take a job at the Punchbowl as Team Leader,” said Nathan.

“We now have considerably more customers than when I first came here.  One of the changes is that there are now steps up to the skips, then they were all open at the back. 

“When I came here was when it changed from the totters to us running the site.  Suez and Devon County Council introduced new and safer changes for the general public coming here.

“I am going to miss all of the guys who work here.  Over those 11 years, a colleague here had a heart attack.  I had been watching him for a couple of hours and noticed signs he was not well.

“Another time one of the men cut his wrist on a piece of ceramic and had an arterial bleed.  I knew I had to be quick.  Both times we had an ambulance come and both recovered well,” Nathan added. 

“I will miss all my guys, they are family.  It has been challenging but fun.  Nearly all our customers are lovely but we can all have off days,” he added. 

Spare time for Nathan includes metal detecting and watches.  He likes collecting them and repairing them.  Then there is his family.  He is married to Danielle, they have four children and a variety of animals, some of which have been rescued and brought home for Dad to mend. 

Taking over as team leader at the Punchbowl is Rory Carnell who has been there for almost six years and lives in Okehampton.