THIS week marks the end of an era for Kent as Dr George Carey spends his final days as Archbishop of Canterbury.

At midnight on Thursday (October 31) Dr Carey, who became Archbishop 11 years ago, will relinquish the title.

The Archbishop's Chaplain, the Rev Stewart Jones, said the city would miss him. He added: "There was always a criticism of him that he did not spend enough time in Canterbury but the demands of his job are such that that was never going to be easy.

"But when you analyse his diary he was in Canterbury at least once a month. That is a huge amount of time for a man who is involved in all sorts of things internationally."

Mr Stewart said Dr Carey and his wife, Eileen, would continue to visit Canterbury to see their daughter Rachel Day and their three grandsons, who live in the city.

During his final few days as Archbishop, Dr Carey was presented with a photographic record of his last 11 years in Kent by the chairman of the Kent Messenger Group, Edwin Boorman.

Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop-designate, takes up the official title on December 2. His enthronement will take place at Canterbury Cathedral on February 27.

Kent-based television producer Peter Williams talks to Dr Carey in an interview to be shown on Meridian at 11.10pm on Tuesday (November 5). In The Impossible Job, the Archbishop gives his views on gay priests, Islam and his successor.