A PARISH council stalwart is retiring after 40 years dedicated service.

Joan Adams has been hailed for her "innate knowledge" of local government by colleagues at Haslington Parish Council as she bows out this month from her role as parish clerk.

Joan joined the council when it was a third-tier authority back in 1980 with a motivation to serve the public inspired by her own full-time duties at Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council's environmental health department, where she worked as a secretary.

Chairman of the council, Cllr Richard Hovey, paid tribute to her work.

Cllr Hovey said: "It will be a big change for the council because Joan knows everything that has been going on in the village for the last 40 years. She worked for Crewe and Nantwich Council and it encouraged its staff almost to take a clerkship at neighbouring parishes so she was familiar with local government.

"She has an innate knowledge and knows all the local organisations. I recall seeing a photograph in a local history book of when they laid natural gas in Haslington many, many years ago and she was on the picture.

"But she does like the odd cruise with her husband and now it has come to the point for her to have a break."

Joan clerked her last parish council meeting by zoom on July 6 - there is no meeting this month - and her successor is due to be in place for the next on September 7.

Without face-to-face contact council members have been unable to make a presentation but Cllr Hovey says a card and gift has been posted out and Joan has put the cash towards an i-Pad.

The council has fielded several applications for the role but Cllr Hovey admits Joan will be a difficult act to follow and the new clerk will have to get to grips with the "new normal" of remote working.

"It has had its benefits in that people who perhaps couldn't get to meetings, those perhaps with a disability that keeps them at home now can join in with a zoom meeting . But when we get back to face-to-face meetings it will be a case of getting those people involved with the parish council," noted the chairman.

Applications (CV and cover letter) for the role of Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer for Haslington Parish Council can still be submitted to Cllr Hovey at [email protected] by close of play today.

It is a a part-time position (5 hours a week plus evening meetings) and pays is in the region of £11.91 to £12.89 per hour, depending on experience.

The successful candidate will be the public's primary point of contact with the council and will carry out tasks, including maintaining the council's accounts. Interviews will be held, probably by Zoom, on Thursday/Friday this week.

The job description and person specification are available to download here and here.