Torbay's waving 'white wizard'

Is Moses Peter, who waves at passing traffic, merely spreading a little happiness – or a distraction to drivers?

Moses Peter, who has become an internet sensation after waving to passing traffic. Photograph: Apex
 
Moses Peter has a variety of waves in his repertoire. His stock wave is a slow, noble-looking one involving the whole right arm, palm forward, fingers close together. For youngsters he tends to waggle his hand vigorously, like Prince William's surprisingly childlike wave at the royal wedding. And from time to time the wave is more of a pointing to the sky as if he has just spotted something very significant there. For seven years Moses has been running through his repertoire on the seafront road between Torquay and Paignton in Devon. Carrying a black staff, he walks up and down the A3022 or sits on a bench or the sea wall and waves at the passing traffic. Moses has become something of a cult figure, and the subject of a Facebook page, "Strange Old Man Who Sits On A Bench On The Road". He is variously described as a white wizard, as Merlin, Neptune or as Torbay's "gentle shepherd". There have been calls for him to stand for mayor and to turn the Christmas lights on – appropriate, as his long white hair, beard and flowing robes have prompted many a child to think he is Santa Claus. Now, however, Moses is feeling threatened. There have been complaints that his waving is distracting drivers and the hooting of car horns that his waving prompts is breaching the peace, not to mention disturbing the afternoon naps of the many elderly people who stay in the hotels that line Moses's mile-long route. The police have spoken to him and appealed for motorists not to toot their horns. "I can't stop them doing that," says Moses. "I'm just an old man doing what I do, trying to spread a little bit of happiness." Moses says he began to wave after bumping into a man who asked him where the first seed for the first tree came from. "That set me thinking . . . what's it all about?" Others might have turned to organised religion but Moses started waving at traffic. He thinks of his waves as "little presents". "I throw them out at the people as they pass. They catch them and throw a present back. That's all." It seems wrong to distract him any longer with conversation. He says goodbye and gives one of his waves – one of the long, noble ones. And, sure enough, it does feel rather nice.