Gordon Ringrose has bowed out as chairman of Wisbech Players and he was presented with two cut crystal glasses and a bottle of malt whisky to mark his departure.

Mr Ringrose let the curtain fall on his chairmanship at the Players’ annual meeting last week.

Hefirst joined the Players in 1994 but had to drop out of a production for medical reasons. He then rejoined five years later and has served on the committee since 2002 as president, treasurer and chairman.

He was thanked by the out-going committee for his sterling work for the group which included directing three productions and treading the boards in five more.

Mr Ringrose and his wife Linda have lived in Elm for 30 years but are moving to Devon, although he will retain his links with the group by becoming a patron.

As well as the whisky and glasses, which were engraved with the Wisbech Players crest, a surprise meal was organised for him at The Five Bells in Parson Drove.

The new committee was elected as follows: president, Mavis Russell; chairman, Ian Jones; vice-chairman, David Lewis; secretary, Wendy Coles; treasurer, Lynne Pain; patron’s secretary, Madeleine Johnson; Val Standen, Eileen Betts; Mark Fearnley, Suzanne Curson and Linda Ekins.