Paul Patterson first started working for what was then Waveney District Council in 1975. He left school on the Friday and knocked on the door on the Monday morning after seeing an advert for trainee civil engineering technicians. For the first six months he worked with a number of teams around drainage, highways and amenities and from there he went onto work in a special projects team investigating drainage problems in Lowestoft.

In 1985, Paul switched to the Coastal Management Team and has stayed with us ever since.

Paul told The Lowestoft Journal, "...now I am ready to step aside. I feel that I have put in a shift and it is time to pass the baton on to colleagues coming in with different skills to me. I will certainly miss the people ... I enjoy walking along the beach in my free time, and this will continue in retirement - so if I see something I will be sure to bring it to the attention of my colleagues."

We'd like to thank Paul for his fantastic service over the years and wish him happiness in his retirement!