ARTHUR Chase resigned from Lechlade Town Council last week after 37 years of representing the town.

He joined in May 1967, several years after moving to the town to run a newsagents, and has had a profound impact on the shape of Lechlade today.

The 69-year-old served as chairman for 25 of those years and his only break was between 1994-98.

He said he left for that period "because there wasn't much happening in Lechlade at the time".

Mr Chase was also head of the committee that organised the funding and building of the new village hall.

He said: "I have had a wonderful time on the council. When I first moved to Lechlade I felt as though I should put something back into the town - that has always been my philosophy.

"I was very fortunate because I came at the same time as John Coxeter, who runs Londis, and Bernard Sparks, who runs the DIY shop. We were young men in the town so we saw everything really.

"John and I started the Chamber of Trade and all of the big estates were built at the time we were there.

"After 40 years the town council needs an injection of youth with a fresh outlook. There are four younger people who are putting their names down to come on to the council which I think is a good thing."

Mr Chase says he still intends to serve as a governor of Farmor's School in Fairford and as a caretaker at St Lawrence Primary School.