It will be the end of an era as three councillors bow out after more than a century of collectively serving their community.
Octogenarians Brian Hunter, Charles Swan and William Robertson are set to retire from Oulton Parish Council next month - after completing a remarkable 115 years of service between them.
With each of them having been members of Oulton parish council for more than 35 years, they have decided to retire from the parish council at next month's elections.
Tributes were paid at a parish council meeting last week, as a parish council spokesman said: 'At a council meeting held at Oulton Community Centre, tributes were paid by the council and parishioners in appreciation of their contribution to the Oulton parish area for many years.'
The current chairman of the Parish Council, Mr Hunter, has been a member of the parish council for 43 years. Current vice chairman Mr Swan – who was chairman of Oulton Parish Council from 1995 to 2007 – has been a member for 37 years and the parish council's web master, Mr Robertson, has served 35 years.
The trio all expressed the pride they felt at not only having been able to represent the views of Oulton residents throughout this time, but the roles they had in helping to shape and be a part of a 'very proactive' local authority.
The spokesman added: 'In appreciation of the steadfast work and support the three councillors have given to Oulton over the years – since the 1970s – parishioners at the meeting, together with other council colleagues, gave the three a standing ovation and stated that Oulton is indeed indebted for their contributions and advice which would be missed.'
Mr Hunter was elected to the parish council in 1976 and has served on it ever since. As well as being a former chairman and leader of Waveney District Council, and a Suffolk County Council member, Mr Hunter, 82, said: 'It is quite a feat.
'I am very, very, proud to be able to do that for all this time. It has been a calling – it gets in your blood representing an area.
'I think we have been part of a very proactive council, which has represented all sorts of views, but we are all octogenarians now and another four-year term – I will be 86 by the time the next elections take place – makes that a bit too long.
'I will definitely miss it, but I am not giving it all up and will still be involved with Crucial Crew and Rotary.'
The trio thanked their wives and family, admitting they were 'indebted' to them all for their help and support.
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