Friday’s speaker was Ian Follett on his life as an ironmonger from 1952 to 2002.

Leaving education at 15 he had a brief spell in journalism before taking a Saturday job in a hardware shop, where his fascination with the smells and foods for sale took hold. He was taken on as a full-time assistant while working his four year apprenticeship in the trade. After his National Service in 1957 he was assistant manager in the shop. He married and had four children over the next few years, after which he changed direction into sales in the London area as a representative in hardware and housewares.

In the ‘70s he was head-hunted by an American company, selling principally barbecues, a new idea in the British market, which proved a great success, but by 1979 his family wanted to relocate to the west country.

Ian joined Mallett’s in Truro, where he spent the rest of his working life, during which time there were many changes such as all day opening on Saturdays and the decision to stop selling coffins! He had a happy working relationship with Robert Mallett, whose ideas were equally progressive.

After a vote of thanks by Dorothy Harrison, Ian judged the competition for an ancient kitchen item which was won by Margaret Prowse, runners up were Jean Pike and Jean Winnan.