Monty Pitkin has been an active member of the Feoffees since 1977 and has catapulted the community-driven charity flourish into what it is now.

A long-serving member of the Beccles community has retired from Beccles Townlands Charity (Feoffees) after 41 years of service.

Monty Pitkin has been an active member of the Feoffees since 1977 and has catapulted the community-driven charity into what it is now.

The 85-year-old from Beccles has used his vast familiarity of the area to raise funds to help projects such as the Public Hall, Beccles Lido, the new Sea Cadet.

Over the past four decades, Mr Pitkins has exuded his experience, memories and knowledge to the rest of the Beccles community.

As a pillar in the community, Mr Pitkin has served as a volunteer, a reliable worker and stand-out individual.

After World War One, the Pitkin family moved to Beccles and opened a general store which eventually transformed into an ice cream parlour on 34 Northgate.

After leaving school at 15, Mr Pitkin was hired as an office boy at Darby's Timber Merchant and rose through the ranks until he was appointed at Managing Director in 1978.

His passion for the Beccles community has only been matched by his love of motorcycles and at the age of 20 he travelled to watch the Isle of Mann TT.

Mr Pitkin would regularly travel throughout Europe on his bike and meet with friends to ride through the continent.

In 1962, Mr Pitkin tragically lost his leg after a bike accident in Norfolk - he spent seven weeks in hospital and after two months of recovery he was back at work offering his advice on timber.

In 1979, he was elected onto the Beccles Town Council, initially serving as a Conservative and later representing Common Ward as a member of United Beccles.

He served as mayor once in 1991 and again in 2001 and from 1967 he joined the Regatta Committee and served as the Vice Chairman and Chairman.

In his life, Mr Pitkin has met the Queen, Prince Philip and Princess Ann on two occasions.

He was recognised for his 'praiseworthy action' after he rescued man from the grips of the river.

On his retirement from the Beccles Townlands Charity, Mr Pitkin said: 'I always felt it an honour to serve as a Feoffee and feel great pride in what we, as an organisation, have been able to achieve over the years.'

The Beccles Townlands Charity provides support to individuals and institutions within the town of Beccles.