A COUNCIL'S longest-serving employee will retire at Christmas after a 39-year career in local government.

Olwen Heap has been secretary to Ribble Valley Borough's Mayor's secretary for many years

Brought up in Downham she attended Clitheroe Grammar School.

She started work at Ribble Valley Borough Council in 1983 aged 17 as a junior clerical assistant in the chief executive’s department and Olwen up the role of mayor’s secretary and committee clerk in 1989.

Olwen said: “In those days, the chief executive Michael Jackson was always called ‘Mr Jackson’ and councillors were always called ‘Councillor’.

“Female employees were not allowed to wear trousers and in common with other workplaces at the time smoking was allowed.

“There were no computers and minutes were taken by hand, dictated into a Dictaphone and typed up by a typing pool.

“Modern administrative systems have improved the job significantly and made it much quicker and more efficient.

"At a time of constant change and uncertainty, there is still a place for mayors as non-political ambassadors for their boroughs.

"Each mayor is unique and wants to achieve different things during their civic year. Some want to visit schools or workplaces, while others want to focus on fundraising.

“I have enjoyed working with each and every one of them.”

Howel Jones, who was Ribble Valley mayor in 1990/91, Olwen’s first year in the post, said: “I was excellently supported by Olwen's painstaking background work and careful arrangements, and during the following years I came to regard her as a mine of information on civic matters.”

Howel’s wife, Beverley Jones, who was mayor in 2009/10, said 'every council should have an Olwen'.

The borough’s current mayor, Stuart Hirst, said: “Olwen has given a working lifetime’s dedicated and professional service to the council’s mayoralty and committees and we wish her a happy retirement.”

Ribble Valley Council chief executive Marshal Scott said: “Olwen is our longest-serving employee and her dedication to public service has been exceptional.

“Her knowledge of the council and its committees is unsurpassed and she will be sorely missed.”

Olwen is looking forward to spending more time hiking and undertaking city breaks with husband John.