THE longest serving employee at Skipton Building Society is looking forward to well-earned retirement.

Dave Smith joined SBS straight from Ermysted's in 1962 and was based at the High Street, now Providence Place.

Times were harder back then - he had a starting wage of £264 per year, just over £5 a week, Saturday morning work was compulsory and junior staff were expected to go out shopping for more senior staff! Ledger books dominated and computers were unknown.

When he retired Mr Smith was an administration manager for Amber Homeloans, a subsidiary, and was based in the new part of the Bailey headquarters.

However he has had a variety of different roles with a range of responsibilities. In 1976 he set up the internal audit departments and twelve years ago he was project manager for the company's move up to the Bailey. He had the task of ensuring all 300 staff moving from the High Street premises on Friday at 5pm were able to start work at the new base at 9am Monday.

Mr Smith has been extremely loyal to the company and believes that the company has stayed loyal to Skipton. He said: "The last 20 years it has taken off and now it's at the forefront of the building society movement. The company is very innovative and very forward moving."

Long service to the company appears to run in the family. His parents, Norman and Freda, were the society's joint caretakers, each serving over 23 years before retiring together in 1981.

A leaving party was held at the office and he was given gifts from both the directors and the staff. Mr Smith, of Hurrs Road, said that he had liked helping younger colleagues .

"I've enjoyed watching their careers take off. In the last few weeks I've had a number of younger people coming up to me and wishing me well and saying thank you for my help. That has been nice."

In a complete turn around to his work at the society, Mr Smith is going to spend some time farming with his son-in-law.

"I'm getting quite adept at milking cows!" he said.