RETIREMENT has proved to be almost as busy as his working days for former solicitor Martin Phippen, who has been appointed County Commissioner for Operations by St John Kent.

When he retired from his busy Bank Street, Ashford, practice some thought he would be content with relaxing in the grounds of his home in Hollingbourne.

Nothing could be further from the truth as he regarded it as a challenge to support the community and he started by getting himself super-fit to complete a long distance charity walk along the Great Wall of China.

Since then many others have benefited from his advice as he has supported numerous good causes and worthy trusts.

He is also a non-executive director of the KM Group and chairman of Lark, the company that won the licence to run the kmfm radio station in Ashford.

A former chairman of Ashford Chamber of Commerce and Industry he remains a director of the now-enlarged Kent Invicta Chamber.

He has served on the Kent St John Council for more than a decade. Now 64, in his his new position he will develop St John’s charitable work and give opportunities to both adults and youngsters to develop their skills and abilities.

Replacing the retiring Maureen Lewsey he will be responsible for the operation and recruitment activities of the service across the county, covering 1,300 volunteers, more than half of them under the age of 25.

He will head up their strategic direction, including the support of the statutory services for any major incidents or emergencies in Kent.