AFTER totting up 43 years of service, the longest serving member of staff at Skipton Building Society has retired.

Ken Oxley, of Hall Croft, Skipton, who has lived in the town all his life, joined the society back in 1955 as an office junior and worked his way through the ranks to his former position of financial accounts manager.

During his career, he was responsible for pioneering several projects which radically changed the way in which the company operated. These included introducing the company's first ever computer system.

He also held the position of advertising manager and instigated the production of Skipton's first television advertisement.

Ken has also worked through three mergers, with the Ribblesdale Building Society in 1966, the Bury Building Society in 1974 and Otley Building Society in 1982.

He said: "Obviously, I have seen many changes over the years and there have been many challenges, but I leave with a great feeling of satisfaction and many happy memories."

He set up a society table tennis team, which initially played in the local league but then played in the Yorkshire Building Societies League.

He also began the cricket team which still plays today and is currently holder of the Building Societies Trophy.

Ken added: "Because of my long association with the society, I have become the unofficial archivist, a role I hope to expand after my retirement.

"With help from the management I'm planning to research the history of Skipton Building Society because in the year 2003 the society will celebrate its 150th year."

When asked what he would do with all his spare time, Ken, who is married to Charlotte and has six children, said he was going to relax.

He added that he would now concentrate on his work for other organisations including his position as treasurer for Ermysted's Old Boys and as a member of Skipton Mechanics Institute.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.