Paul and Fay Axon, of School Road, Copford, Colchester, Essex, write:Your article With the carriageway came the Characters (Ashburton and buckfastleigh edition, April 12) brought back so many memories. At the time I worked for McAlpine. My wife and two small children, came with me to Dartbridge, we lived on the site, before buying a house in Ashburton. I was one of the first of the McAlpine staff on site and was the last to leave, before leaving the site I witnessed the compound restored back to its natural beauty.I now live in Essex. While living in Devon my family and myself made lifelong friends, hence the article sent to me from Ann and Peter Wotton, who live in Ashburton.There are so many memories from work to family to social life. to name but a few – Brother Gilbert, from Buckfast Abbey; Jim Pearce, portreeve of Ashburton; the local councillors; Ashburton Football Club; the local carnivals; twinning with Cleder; Ashburton School, where both of my children began their educationThe flooding of the River Dart! The retaining wall on Plymouth Road! Just a few of the many memories of Devon, which to this day we treasure.

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