IT’S the end of an era in St Ives as Norris Museum curator Bob Burn-Murdoch plans to retire after more than 30 years in the role.

He admitted when he started at the St Ives museum he didn’t know much about St Ives and joked that he expected to get sacked after a fortnight!

He told The Hunts Post: “I came from Cambridge and I didn’t know much about Huntingdonshire despite being from the county. I certainly didn’t think I’d last this long – I thought I’d get sacked for my incompetence but they’re only finding out about it now!

“The museum has changed a lot over the years. Chris Morris was the first professional curator, and he took the first steps of a very long journey, taking over from the volunteers who ran it beforehand.

“Along with the help of the friends of the museum and volunteers, I have been able to continue in his footsteps.

“There are too many exhibitions and artefacts to pick a favourite but one of the best experiences has to be in 1981, soon after I arrived. Archeologists were digging at the site of the priory and found the remains of a Roman villa, which almost certainly means that the bones of St Ivo, discovered in 1001, were not of a Persian bishop but a Roman, and shows the history of the town.”

He added: “It’s been a wonderful time, educating everyone and answering all the questions from people over the years, and I will miss it.”

Mr Burn-Murdoch, pictured left, will call time on his career when he turns 60 at the end of the year, and interviews are being held next week for his successor.