'I'll never forget my time spent with the most friendly, honest, helpful people'

Being a traffic warden anywhere isn’t always easy but Gerry Cooke has left his role with nothing but praise for the people of Buncrana, having patrolled the streets in recent years.

Gerry, who is a native of Limavady, Co Derry, finished up at the end of last month and has been knocked off his feet so much by the well-wishes of the people in the area, then decided to pen a letter to show his gratitude, titled ‘Thank you the People Of Buncrana’.

“On Friday last I finished work in Buncrana after a wonderful exciting five years,” Gerry wrote. “Friday morning at 1:30am I was awoken by a ring of my phone and the message was telling me to check out an article on Facebook about me.

“To my surprise, I started to read the article that Bill O’Doherty had placed on Facebook the previous day. I genuinely was surprised and humbled by the content that Bill and others had written about me during my time in Buncrana.”

Bill, from O’Doherty’s Bar, had penned a tribute to Gerry, which read: “Here’s a photo of a man that hasn’t an ounce of Buncrana blood in him & he probably has never stayed a night in the town. Yet for many, many people he’s seen as almost being part of the town and its side streets. 

“Gerry Cooke must be one of the world's most civil traffic wardens and tomorrow Friday is his last day in Buncrana. An accomplished engineer Gerry spent many years working in DuPont before seeking a wee change in career and ended up in Buncrana for a number of years, not only as the traffic warden but for many, the meeter and greeter for hundreds of people as they parked for minutes or hours on the streets of Buncrana. With a fascinating insight into who owned which car- he didn’t get it wrong too often- and is known to be slightly liberal on the minutes at times- yet still top class at his job. 

“On many occasions, we could hear him chatting nicely to a potential criminal and Gerry could listen away cooly to the many tall tales that he was spun by motorists.

“Even when he was getting an unsavoury mouthful from disgruntled parkers he’d still be the same cool dude and didn’t get excited. On occasions, we noted his ability to issue a ticket yet by the time he had finished chatting to the victim you'd be forgiven for thinking that it was he that had got the parking ticket!!

“Born and reared in Limavady, this highly educated, travelled and knowledgeable man is not for hanging up the boots yet, nor retiring to spend time with his adult son and two daughters who all have made careers in public service. He’s moving on to new challenges in the engineering field after enjoying most of a decade in Buncrana.

“On our own behalf, we’d like to wish Gerry all the best for the future and we think he will always be thought of fondly as a lovely man who made fantastic work of an extremely difficult job. 

 “Gerry must be the first traffic warden in the world who has received so many gifts on the occasion of his leaving. A fitting testament to a man who could mix business with a bit of fun and banter. If you see him around tomorrow you might wish him all the best. Thanks, Gerry, and all the best for the future.”

The feedback on Bill’s post was huge, so much so that Gerry thought it best to roll over and get a good night’s sleep before even attempting to wade through the replies.

“The best was not even started as when I went out of the office at 9am I was constantly stopped and welcomed by people the whole day wishing me the best on my retirement from Buncrana,” Gerry's letter continues.

“Several times during the day as I shook hands with drivers on the main street and traffic was slightly held up but not one driver sounded his or her horn to move.

“I can tell you that I have worked in many African and European countries and enjoyed life experiencing the culture of different ways of life but believe me nothing could have prepared me when five years ago I came to work in Buncrana.

“Buncrana is a beautiful town but the heart of Buncrana are the people who live there. The friendship I made with the people cannot in any way be measured and it is only then you realize why visitors come in large numbers to visit Buncrana.

“On Friday it was a very emotional day for me as was Thursday when I went to the school and was surprised by the gifts and honest well wishes not only from the parents but from the children as well. I had a lump in my throat when talking to the many well-wishers it was a humble experience but it could not have prepared me for the next day.

“As I started my daily patrol on Friday I was immediately approached by so many well-wishers either on the pavement or in their vehicles.  Nothing in this life could have prepared me for the number of people bearing gifts and wishing me Luck on my retirement from Buncrana. This did not stop most of the day and I honestly felt so sad finally talking to the huge numbers that day.

“Friends I got to know over the last five years approached me and we had a bit of craic remembering some of the times during my stay in Buncrana. Even when drivers stopped in the street to wish me good luck there was no angry response from the next vehicle as they stopped as well and so on went the morning.

“I would have to take up two full pages to thank every person who gave me gifts and well wishes but please can I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for your wonderful genuine affection and respect that you have bestowed on me during my time in Wonderful Buncrana.

“The people I have had the privilege to work with on the Council was always a pleasure and they accepted me into their inner circle as a friend from the start. We had some great debates at break time and I was made to feel at home from the start. Thanks for that Guys and the wonderful gift.

“As a Traffic Warden in Buncrana during the summer the visitors would ask me directions and I am sure there were some poor souls still looking for the destination with the directions I gave them.

“The people I got to know in Buncrana I guarantee that you all are in my daily prayers and I will honestly never forget my time spent with the most friendly, honest and helpful people in Ireland that was my privilege to walk among.

“I will remember those five years so fondly and will genuinely miss my many friends who took the time to say goodbye and the gifts were incredible and I will definitely return on a regular basis to see the friends I have etched in my heart. Go raibh maith agat.”