The US weatherman who swapped TV for trains after bagging a job with Tyne and Wear Metro is jumping ship for a new role at the Shields Ferry.
Joe Avary, whose American accent proved popular with Metro customers, has joined the Ferry crew as a Second Mate and will now start learning how to drive the vessels across the river.
The 47-year-old, of East Boldon, is originally from Albuquerque in New Mexico and has had a 23-year media career which has took him across the USA as a cameraman and a journalist, culminating in his dream job working in the Caribbean.
Read more: Cayman Islands weatherman leaves TV job for new role with Tyne and Wear Metro
His previous job saw him presenting weather forecasts and compiling news reports for the Cayman Islands’ only local TV station. But he hit the local news headlines himself in February for his incredible journey from the Cayman Islands to North East England, where he swapped the hot sun and golden sandy beaches for a job on the Metro.
And after a stint working on Metro as a customer services advisor, Joe is now excited about the fresh challenge of joining the Shields Ferry crew.
Joe said: "It's a huge honour to get this opportunity to work at the Shields Ferry. I am really looking forward to getting started.
"The ferry is a local icon. I jumped at the chance to be able to work there. We had plenty of boat trips over the in Cayman Islands, where the weather is a little bit warmer than here, and so is the water, but to get the chance to actually learn how to drive a ferry is a wonderful new experience for me.
"I’ll miss all of my colleagues and customers on the Metro stations. If you take a trip on the Shields Ferry and you see me on duty don’t hesitate to come and say hello."
Nexus, the public body which owns and operates the Shields Ferry, said it was looking forward to him bringing his excellent customer skills to the cross-Tyne Ferry service.
Customer Services Operations Manager, Mandy Francis, said: "We are delighted to welcome Joe to our team at the Shields Ferry.
"He's become a really popular member of staff at Metro and we are looking forward to working with him here at the Shields Ferry. I have absolutely no doubt he'll be brilliant at the role and will build up a great rapport with our customers, which is real hallmark of the ferry service."
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