A LONG-serving civil servant has retired after 40 years at Tendring Council.

Alan Corbyn joined the local authority in September 1974 following a local government reorganisation.

He started off at the council’s Harwich office as a trainee building inspector before moving to the Weeley offices four years later and has worked from the site ever since.

He trained to qualify as a building control officer and then took on the role of running the section in 2004 and leaves in the post of building control manager.

Ian Davidson, the council’s chief executive, paid tribute to Alan’s 41 years of loyal service.

“It is a fantastic length of time to work in the same section for one council and Alan will have seen many changes over that time,” he said.

“He has served the local community well over more than four decades and we all wish him well in his retirement – he has definitely earned it.”

Alan is looking forward to spending more time playing golf and travelling.