TIMES readers who enjoy the weekly visual and humorous treat of the cartoons in this newspaper by ‘Ed’ will be animated to know that the West Devon drawing wizard has brought out a new book — and with superlative timing — just in time for Christmas!

The Best of 2016 — The best Ed cartoons from the Tavistock Times Gazette and the Okehampton Times features ‘tongue in cheek’ interpretations of events and people that appeared in these publications of the past year. They also contain some cartoons that did not quite make it into the paper, but were just too good to be left on the ‘cutting room’ floor. All profits of the publication will be donated to BBC’s Children In Need.

Ed’s first cartoon appeared on page six in the Times on January 28 this year. It was his (or is it a she?) take on news that the much loved Old Folks’ Rest Room in Tavistock (if you can call all those aged 55 plus ’old!) had found a new, permanent home next to the pannier market after years in the wilderness. The black and white sketch showed a worn out group of ‘oldies’ completely whacked by their voluntary efforts to open up the centre.

It remains a mystery, though, why Ed wishes to remain anonymous. He/she claims that the editor was anxious to keep the identity secret as his/her talents could be be lured away by Fleet Street or the producers of The Simpsons, whereas Times editor Alison Stephenson quite rightly claims it is for Ed’s own public safety, just in case he/she is drawn into any reprisals by a disgruntled caricature featuring in that week’s newspaper.

But how did ‘Ed’ manage to persuade the real ‘Ed’ that a weekly cartoon would justify taking up precious space each week in the popular West Devon newspaper?

According to the cartoonist, he/she burst into the Times’ editorial office, thumped a fist on the editor’s desk — even risking the precious drawing hand bestowed by the God of Art — and demanded that an amusing cartoon of a weekly topical event be put on a prominent page! Actually the reality was that he/she asked really nicely and Alison thought it a splendid idea.

It would have helped Ed’s initial request if he/she had brought along an example cartoon of a topical issue but Ed did confess his ideas were a little sketchy at that time.

Alison said: ‘Ed’s cartoons are a great addition to our newspapers, reflecting the news stories of the week and taking a humorous look at life in West Devon. Sometimes there is also a serious message in these cartoons.

‘Judging from the reaction so far the readers really enjoy the cartoons and I feel they give our newspapers something unique. There is always a page that people turn to first when they get the newspaper and the letters’ page is often the one — this is where the cartoon sits, a perfect place for these gems that our talented Ed churns out each week!’

Since the cartoon of the new Old Folks’ Rest Room, Ed has been entertaining Times’ readers weekly. Among his stand out drawings are those of Dragons’ Den Peter Jones catching fire, in front of aghast Tavistock College students who entered a national competition for budding entrepreneurs; a Labrador dog using a new defibrillator in Hatherleigh to resuscitate his cocker spaniel friend and the marvellous man-made ‘Man Engine’, which celebrated the Tamar Valley’s mine heritage, tripping over the much publicised ‘danger cobbles’ of Bedford Square. There were also funny cartoons of the Mayor of Okehampton Cllr Jan Goffey about to open a new railway service at the town station when an announcement comes over the public tannoy announcing the inevitable delay, and, of course the much liked vegan protesters dressed up as fruit and veg being confronted by police outside Lifton Farm Shop. Long may they continue.

Although the mysterious Ed himself can be found in two of the cartoons themselves in the book, it would probably take the detective skills of Sherlock Holmes himself to find who our enigmatic artist possibly is. So, as for revealing the name of the real life name of the mysterious ‘Ed’ Times’ readers will just have to draw their own conclusions.

The Best of 2016 - The best Ed cartoons from the Tavistock Times Gazette and the Okehampton Times is available priced at £9.99.

Books are available in Book Stop, Tavistock and Costa Coffee shop.