Caretaker Nobby Clark has eventually retired at the age of 82 – 20 years after taking on a "temporary" job with mhs homes.

When he joined the housing association, he told his employees he was "good for three more years" after taking early retirement from his engineering job.

Nobby, real name Anthony, fell in love with his role as part of the grounds and caretaking team and he has the accolade of being mhs's oldest member of staff.

During his time with the Medway-based company, he has been awarded Employee of the Year and has been nominated for a Pride in Medway Award twice.

But while he may be hanging up his overalls, great granddad Nobby is not putting his feet up.

He said: "I've got a decorating job to do first – someone I know wants her stairway painted. I just want to do little jobs that keep me occupied. that keep my brain going. Then I hope to go to Australia for a couple of months and would love to visit Ireland for the music, I love it."

He is also helping to restore a rally car with his step-son Mark.

The former Barnardos' boy left his home in Essex at the age of 15 to help out on a poultry farm in Wigmore where his mother worked.

He served three years in the Army and then worked for manufacturing factory CAV Systems, now Delphi Diesel Systems in Gillingham.

When a friend said mhs homes was advertising a caretaker's job he jumped at the chance.

Nobby, who lives with wife Kathleen in St Leonards Avenue, Chatham, said: "I loved the job, being outdoors and had a good relationship with the tenants."

Nobby's last day was before Christmas and was celebrated with a presentation and a fitting send-off from his colleagues.

Chief executive Ashley Hook said: "Nobby is a brilliant member of team mhs. He's well known and respected among colleagues and very popular with customers. Nobby takes great care and pride in keeping the areas he manages clean and tidy."

Nobby was based at blocks of flats in the Humber Cresent area of Strood and also looked after accommodation in Cliffe.