It was the final farewell for departing town clerk Simon Lloyd last Thursday evening, as he bid goodbye to the councillors assembled at the monthly meeting and introduced the new interim clerk to the business.

Mr Lloyd thanked the town council for the “extremely interesting” time he had enjoyed over his last three and a half years in the role, and introduced Gordon Mussett, 63, to the chamber.

Mr Mussett, who has worked for town councils in Haverhill and Felixstowe and in local governments for 41 years, will commute from his home in Witham for the role.

The position is likely to continue until at least the middle of March, when a permanent clerk will be appointed.

“It’s interesting to be here, and I hope to see a few tweaks and changes as part of my tenure,” said Mr Mussett, who has already put forward the idea of Saturday surgeries to increase public attendance to those meetings.

Shortlisting for the permanent role of town clerk will begin in early January, and it is hoped the new clerk will start before the Town Council elections in May next year.