IT'S going to seem strange for staff at Ipswich Buses not to have executive director David Whitford around all the time after he retired from full-time work.

IT'S going to seem strange for staff at Ipswich Buses not to have executive director David Whitford around all the time after he retired from full-time work.

He's been with the company for 20 years, and never had a day off sick - he even managed to fit in a couple of minor operations during his holidays!

“I joined the company in 1989 and it has been a wonderful place to work - I've been very lucky with my health and when I did have a couple of very minor things I fitted them around holidays,” he said.

Mr Whitford joined the company as finance manager and then became finance director before moving to his role as executive director, running the company's computer systems.

“It's very different being a director of a public transport business than it is in other companies, but I have always got a great deal of satisfaction from it and I have worked with some very good people.

“I came here after working in other businesses, but I felt this was somewhere that I really belonged,” he said.

Mr Whitford handed over the financial management of the company to Julie Dyson who is also company secretary - and the two of them have continued to work closely together.

And although he has now retired full time from the company after reaching his 65th birthday, he will continue to work part time as a consultant.

Managing director Malcolm Robson said: “David's work record is quite extraordinary and he has been an important part of the company's success over the years. We're delighted that we're not losing him completely!”