TEN years after becoming Wellington town clerk Greg Dyke has decided to quit the job.

Mr Dyke, 67, who has spent nearly all of his life in the town, is retiring on December 31 this year.

He told the WWN: “I’m very pleased to be ending my working life doing the best job I have ever had.”

Mr Dyke had spent 25 years at Taunton Deane Borough Council as democratic services manager before becoming town clerk in April 2008.

He took over from long-time WWN reporter Tony Brown, who had been town clerk for 32 years.

Mr Dyke said: “It’s a very wide-ranging role and no two days are the same – the variety keeps it so interesting.

“The job goes beyond attending meetings, taking minutes, writing reports and producing agendas.

“You can be dealing with a neighbourhood plan or playing pitch strategy one minute and the next it is litter, dogs’ mess and that sort of thing.”

Mr Dyke said that Somerset County Council and Taunton Deane Borough Council no longer wanted to carry out certain functions.

He said: “It’s an opportunity for the town council to look at these things and say there might be an opportunity for us to take some of them on.”

Mr Dyke said highlights of the job had been being at the centre of the democratic process in Wellington and being involved in decisions that affected the town.

The biggest challenges had been keeping up with changes in local government and changes in legislation – and making sure the town council was in a position to deal with them.

His successor would need to maintain a sense of humour and be prepared to deal with all sorts of people.

Mr Dyke moved to Kingsteignton just under two years ago to be closer to his son and daughter, and grandchildren.

He plans to watch more rugby and cricket when he retires. He said: “I don’t propose to do nothing – I would be bored rigid and my wife Carolyn would soon kick me out if spent to much time under her feet.”

Mr Dyke attended Corams Lane and Beech Grove primary schools in Wellington before going on to Court Fields School in the town.

He was a founder member of the Arcadians, now part of Wellington Arts Association, where he met his wife.

He played rugby and cricket for the town clubs and is a life member of Wellington Rugby Club having just stepped down as president.

The town clerk’s job was advertised in last week’s WWN at a salary of up to £24,937 for an average 30-hour week. The closing date for applications is August 20.