Agenda item

Retirement of the Town Clerk:

Resolved unanimously –That, on taking its leave from Chris Duffield, this Court wishes to express to him its most sincere thanks for the service that he has given over these past nine years.

The City Corporation is an unusual, a unique, organisation; apart from the extent of its activities and the challenges they can produce, the absence of party politics and the existence of both the Court of Aldermen and of Common Council add to the complexity of how it runs. Chris’s experience and ability enabled him very quickly to get a sense of the way in which the organisation works and he has always shown a very quick grasp of issues key to the solving of problems.  This has manifested itself in countless ways but for this Court in particular in the sensitive way in which the review of the boundaries was conducted, which had a very successful outcome, in the huge amount of behind the scenes work in preparing options for us to consider about links with magistracy and, not least, in seeking to safeguard the interests of this Court.

The Members of this Court are as one in expressing their warmest thanks to Chris and in wishing him, and Tricia, a long and happy retirement, with many happy memories of Guildhall and of a job very well done.

Mr. Duffield replied in suitable terms.