A PROBATION officer working in East Lancashire for 27 years is retiring next week.

Graham Fletcher will be 65 on January 11, the day after he retires and 50 years to the day since he started work as an apprentice compositor for a printing firm.

Graham, from Loveclough, worked in residential social care for three years before he became a trainee probation officer in Manchester in 1974, moving up to Lancashire once he qualified.

He said: "What I will miss most is the involvement with people and particularly with my job which gets you involved with people's problems.

"I won't miss the bureaucracy, which although needed, can involve a bit too much paper work.

"I have considered it a privilege to work in the probation service and I have great deal personally. For every one person that stops offending it means less victims."

Graham worked in Rawtenstall for six years and also worked in Garth Prison in Leyland, Preston Prison and the probation offices in Burnley, Nelson and Accrington.

He is married to Maureen and is a keen bowler and a member of the CPA Social Club in Loveclough and the Men's Society at St Mary and All Saints, Goodshaw, and St John's Church, Crawshawbooth.

He said: "I am going to have a rest at first and spend a bit more time with my wife.

"It was our silver wedding anniversary last year and we were due to retire at the same time, but Maureen had to take early retirement from her work as a district nurse five years ago."