A SIDMOUTH barman has hung up his bar towel after more than 30 years pulling pints in the town.

A SIDMOUTH barman has hung up his bar towel after more than 30 years pulling pints in the town.Jon Leask, of Lymebourne Park, was greeted with a surprise party at the end of his last shift in Sidmouth's War Memorial Club on Monday, which also happened to be his 65th birthday.He said: "I first started working at the Black Horse many years ago. "I was there for five years, then went to the New Tavern for another five years and, after five years at the Marine on the seafront, I started at the War Memorial Club. "I've been there for 17 years."Jon was presented with more than 30 cards, an engraved clock from the War Memorial Club, a decanter from the people at the Black Horse, glasses engraved with his name and even a bottle of his favourite whisky.He said: "I'm going to miss the camaraderie, the leg pulling and everything that used to go on. It's the craic really that I'll miss. Folk Week was always a good run at the Marine. "The place was always heaving, four deep at the bar. "I was very much involved with the football team at the Black Horse when I was there as well."Jon may have reached retirement age, but he will still be found behind the bar pulling pints part-time.