A party was held to mark the retirement of Chris Johnson as clerk to Alston Moor Parish Council after 38 years in the post.
The event was held at Alston Town Hall, which was packed, with music provided by the Mount Hooley Band, Rory Connor and The Players.
Chris has been the parish clerk for Alston Moor Parish Council for the last 38 years. She moved from the Durham area, where she worked a radiographer, in 1985 and was looking for a part-time job as she had two children.
There was a vacancy for the post of parish clerk. At interview, one of the councillors asked if her husband had written the application letter. Chris was a little taken aback by this question but when offered the job, accepted it. Chris has worked quietly and effectively behind the scenes over the years, applying her immense knowledge of the legal and procedural rules of parish councils.
She is held in high regard, as was witnessed by the number of people who came to the town hall to mark her retirement.
Chris has many interesting stories to tell. Alston has lost many services over the last 35 years — the magistrate’s court, the sixth form at the local secondary school SKS, the police station, the community hospital, the sheltered accommodation for the elderly and both banks. Chris supported the council with the fight to save all of these services.
There have been some successes: partial reinstatement of the cobbles, renovation of the shopfronts, placement of 15 stone benches around Alston Moor and improvement of the right-of-way footpaths.
Chris will continue as one of the directors of Moorland Candles which has a candle-making factory in Alston. She is also looking forward to spending more time with her grandchildren.
