A DEDICATED parish councillor who has served her village community for more than 40 years is retiring from her role.

Chairman of Broadmayne Parish Council June Salt says she will spend more time with her husband and her garden as she steps down after four decades.

Mrs Salt, 80, joined the parish council back in 1970, having moved to the village with her husband Ken ten years earlier.

She said: “I have enjoyed it very much indeed.

“There have been the odd problems that crop up inevitably but all the councillors I have worked with have been extremely nice people.”

Mrs Salt, who has been chairman of the parish council for nearly 35 years, said she has found the work rewarding and has enjoyed being part of the Broadmayne community.

She said: “Parish councils are about being able to reach the grass roots of communities and we have been able to do good in the community, which perhaps isn’t so easy in larger councils.

Mrs Salt said one of the her proudest achievements over the years was the parish council’s involvement with delivering the village hall 24 years ago, when the community raised around £61,000 for the project.

She said: “Having a village hall of a good size and with good facilities has created such a lot of community events and organisations and people are able to pursue their own interests to a much greater degree.”

Mrs Salt said leaving the council after 41 years will be difficult but she has plenty of other interests to pursue.

She said: “I shall miss it but I have promised I won’t interfere.

“I think the garden is going to get a bit more attention and my husband – he’s been tremendously supportive.”

At the Broadmayne annual parish meeting Mrs Salt was presented with an engraved bowl in recognition of her service and was giving a standing ovation.

Parish councillor Steve Diamond paid tribute to Mrs Salt.

He said: “June’s input, experience and knowledge will be greatly missed on the parish council.”