A LONG-SERVING employee who initially started his job as a temporary summer position has retired after 50 years in the post.

Gardener Brian Stacey from Merton was just 15 years old when he joined the Heanton Estate's maintenance department for the summer months.

Brian said: 'I left Torrington School and applied to the land agent, Mr Roy Puddicombe, for a job.

'I went to meet the foreman at the maintenance works and he told me that Mr Puddicombe would take me on for the summer months. That was in 1962 and I have often thought that it was a very long summer.'

He joined the 21-member team responsible for sawing timber over the winter months and maintaining the estate properties during the summer months.

Brian said: 'I spent much of my time painting — the houses in cream and green and the farm and coach yard in cream and maroon.

'It was also my job to replace roof slates and although I also used to work as the local chimney sweep, I never really had much of a head for heights.

'The worst job was cleaning the gutters at Great Potteridge, a mansion near Merton, which was a 40 feet high climb.'

In more recent years, Brian has worked as an estates gardener. He said: 'Gardening is my passion and now I'm retired I will be spending more time in my own garden, as well as looking after my grandson.'

At a retirement celebration, Brian was presented with a set of crystal glasses and a long service certificate from the estate. His friends and colleagues also presented him with a barometer.

Brian is one of a number of employees who have worked for Clinton Devon Estates for over 30 years.

Estates director John Varley said: 'Brian is the longest serving full-time employee in living memory here at the estates and we are extremely grateful for his hard work and commitment, especially when he thought he was just going to be with us for the summer. We wish him every happiness in his retirement.'