A PARISH council has appointed a new clerk.

Geoff Bosworth, a former town clerk at Barnard Castle Town Council, is taking over from Ian Calvert as clerk at Croft Parish Council.

The 65-year-old started his 47-year career in local government at the Greater London Council from 1966 to 1978, when Ken Livingstone was beginning to make a name for himself.

He later headed north, spending three years with Hambleton District Council before spending 19 years at Darlington Borough Council as an administration manager.

The father-of-three, who lives in Darlington, served as town clerk at Barnard Castle for a further 12 years before retiring in October last year.

Mr Bosworth attended his first meeting of Croft Parish Council last night (Wednesday, March 13) and will officially start next month.

After the meeting he said: “I have been in local government for 47 years, but there are some things I have never done that I will be doing here.

“I am looking forward to the new challenges and I hope I can carry on Ian’s good work.”

A special presentation was also held to celebrate the work of Mr Calvert, who has served the community for 16 years, and members of the parish council paid tribute to him.

Mr Calvert said: “After 16 years I hope I have been doing it right but I am looking forward to doing more photography and gardening.

“I am sure Geoff will do a great job. We had six applicants and chose him because of his experience as a town clerk.”