A 35-year spell serving the people of Holbeach is to end later this month with the retirement of former parish council clerk Jill Harrington.
The setting up of its offices at Coubro Chambers and buying Hallgate Cemetery were two of the highlights picked out by Mrs Harrington (70) who was warmly praised by councillors this week.
Mrs Harrington first became deputy clerk in 1978 and took over from Patrick Mossop as clerk in 1990, a post she held for 22 years before handing over to current acting clerk Teresa Daisley in April 2012.
“I’ve enjoyed the majority of my time working for the council, met lots of nice councillors and also parishioners,” Mrs Harrington said.
“I’ve done my best to help a lot of people, especially those moving into Holbeach and that’s what I’ve particularly enjoyed.
“But I feel it’s now time to hand over to somebody else, a younger person with new ideas, and I wish the council the very best.”
Mrs Harrington originally planned to retire a year ago but was asked to stay on as deputy clerk to help her successor with work around the Localism Act 2011 which gives more decision-making powers to parish and town councils.
“I really enjoyed setting up the council offices in 2001 and the other big thing was purchasing Hallgate Cemetery,” Mrs Harrington said.
“We’ve had some great events in Holbeach, the last one being the lighting of the beacon for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee last year.”
Coun Peter Savory, parish council chairman, said: “Jill has worked with the council for many years and she’s been an absolute stalwart.
“She’s worked very hard, with very high integrity and will be sorely missed.”
Meanwhile, the council is hoping to appoint a new clerk in April to replace Mrs Daisley who resigned in January but is staying on until a successor is appointed.