He’s had what he believes is the best job in Kent for just over 12 years, but now Maidstone’s town centre manager is happy to leave the County Town in someone else’s hands.

When Bill Moss took on the job with TCM, work to build the Fremlin Walk shopping centre was just about to start.

It was that which had sealed the deal on his move from publishing into a new arena – promoting the town and its traders big and small.

“I knew it would be a very exciting time for the town,” he said. “It was a big wrench to leave my other job. But Fremlin Walk has been the catalyst for a lot of the significant changes in and around the town centre. It has been brilliant for the town. Even now when you walk down it you’d think it was brand new.

“I have had the best job in Kent for 12 and a half years. I have been so lucky.

“I am very proud to see the things we have done in the time I have been here. I have taken it and moved it forward – someone else will come in now and move it to the next level.”

Highlights have included speaking in the House of Commons, a Bin the Bag scheme against using plastic bags, and the campaign against the out-of-town Newnham Court expansion.

And it’s fair to say there has been a good share of dressing up over the years – to support festivals and at Christmas.

He turned 65 last summer and has no qualms about leaving the job to someone else. He will also step down from five other roles. Instead he will volunteer on the Urban Blue Bus and remain a trustee at the Blackthorn Trust, volunteering one day a week.

TCM directors will appoint his successor in April.

“I think there is a good foundation for the new manager,” he said.

“We have the biggest shopping town in Kent and the night-time economy is the biggest and the best in the county.”

“The role has no power but a lot of influence. There are some fabulous people in Maidstone but they need to get out and walk the streets.”

He and wife Jean, who retired from full-time work five years ago, plan to go on holidays and focus on family, which includes 10 grandchildren. His last day was on Friday.