Keeper of the sluice

AFTER 33 years as sluice-keeper at Ring s End, Reg Hall closed the gate for the last time in April, 1980. Reg, 62, who also farmed at Ring s End, had checked the sluice at least twice a day since he took over the job from his father in 1947. He had made a

AFTER 33 years as sluice-keeper at Ring's End, Reg Hall closed the gate for the last time in April, 1980.

Reg, 62, who also farmed at Ring's End, had checked the sluice at least twice a day since he took over the job from his father in 1947.

He had made about 25,000 trips from his home in March Road while carrying out the important job.

Unfortunately he was a victim of the Government's latest round of expenditure cuts that Anglian Water authority had been forced to make.

The part-time post had been in Reg's family for more than 70 years and involved checking the water level and general maintenance of the sluice which separates the River Nene from Morton's Leam.

Throughout his career as sluice keeper, Reg never had a holiday and even on Christmas Day made his regular checks on the water level.

During the storms which flooded Wisbech in 1978 he had to battle his way through swirling high water to open the gates.

The job was taken over by one of the AWA's own staff.

On his final day Reg said: "You don't do anything for 33 years without you miss it.