TAKING up a job at the Ventnor branch of Pittis estate agents has been a homecoming for the new manager.

Liz Urry was brought up on the mainland, but she has always had strong family ties with Ventnor, and spent all her childhood summer holidays there.

“Urry is an old-established name in this part of the Island,” she said.

“My father and grandfather were both Ventnor born and bred, and, since taking this job, I have actually met quite a few cousins — some of whom I didn’t even know I had.”

But Liz has come home in more ways than one, because it was at Pittis — after moving to the Island some 15 years ago — that she began her career in the local property market.

Starting in 2006 in Newport, she went on to manage the company’s offices in Cowes and Sandown, before leaving to try her hand at running her own agency.

“It’s great to be working with Pittis again, alongside a lot of fantastic, highly professional people — many of whom I worked with before," Liz said.

"I suppose you could say that, having spread my wings, I’ve now come back home to roost.”

Liz is a big fan of Ventnor, and extremely positive about the outlook for the local property market.

“This is a fabulous town, with a lovely period feel to it, a wonderful temperate climate, a thriving arts scene, a friendly atmosphere and a strong sense of community.

"While the majority of our clients start out as holiday home buyers and sellers, many of them choose to stay, because it’s just such a great place to live.”

Liz believes that Brexit will actually be good for the local market.

“I think a lot of people who might otherwise have bought in France or Spain are going to consider places like Ventnor instead,” she said.

Commenting on Liz’s appointment, operations director Neil Piper said: “Estate agency is above all a people business, and in addition to our emphasis on training, one of the main reasons why Pittis enjoys such an excellent reputation is that we have always prided ourselves on recruiting the very best in the business.

"Consequently, we’re delighted to welcome back someone of Liz’s calibre to head up our Ventnor office."