A WOMAN who has spent more than 34 years helping happy couples tie the knot is beginning her retirement today.
Jean Merigold, 57, started working as a registrar in 1968 and has lost count of the births, marriages and deaths that she has dealt with.
"I just couldn't remember the number of marriages I have conducted, but it must be thousands," she said.
She began work as a deputy registrar in Middlesbrough and has been superintendent registrar at Guisborough, east Cleveland, since 1990.
She performed her last wedding at 11am yesterday, at Guisborough Register Office, and is looking forward to her retirement.
"I'm just going to enjoy the time that's my own after over 30 years of giving my time to others," she said.
She will be succeeded by Margaret Raggett.
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