Les Retallick – Senior Curator

Les is aged 55, lives in Torquay and has been working at Torre Abbey for 34 years. In fact Les's godson once remarked that he had been working at the abbey for so long that he could now be counted as one of the exhibits. I think he is probably right, says Les.

Les will be well known to anyone who has had any contact with Torre Abbey over the past 30 years acting as the abbey's guardian angel in his role of senior curator. He first joined the abbey staff when he was young man of 21 years, in response to a local advert for a cleaner and guide.  At the time, his parents were selling their local store, so Les thought that he would find some work until he could find a proper job.

Since those days his role has developed into a full curatorial role and he now has to care for the abbey's collections, carry out research and write articles amongst other things, including still doing some cleaning and guiding in case you are wondering.  Some things never change. In fact it is giving guided tours and meeting visitors to the abbey that brings him the most pleasure, saying that helping people to enjoy their visit to the Abbey is the best part of my job.

Les is also one of the founders of the Friends of Torre Abbey group which started about 15 years ago. It began as a small group of interested people but has now grown to a membership of over 1000. They have raised somewhere in the region of £150,000 for the abbey over the years and are now committed to raising a further £120,000 towards the current refurbishment project. It is a very active group and has a very full social calendar with lectures and visits to help support their fund raising activity.

Les said:  Since my time at the abbey, I have witnessed many changes and the current project is a continuation of wanting to put Torre Abbey at the centre of Torbay's visitor attractions.

I want to raise the profile of Torre Abbey so that people come to Torbay because of Torre Abbey and not leave it to chance as to whether they discover the abbey in passing.

Les also has an active social life and is a founder member of the South Devon Model Railway Society, is a keen video photographer and also enjoys travelling at home and abroad. He already has two trips planned for this year – narrow boating in the UK and a visit to Bavaria – hope you have your Lederhosen packed Les? Les also has a love of writing and has written several books on local history as well as a novel for teenagers. Is there no end to this man's talents?

Les has an obvious passion for Torre Abbey and many people will be pleased that he has still yet to find a proper job to move on to.