A senior coastal engineer, who dedicated decades of service to protecting and improving the Suffolk coast, has been hailed at a special retirement event.
After a remarkable 48 years working in local government - with Waveney District Council and more recently East Suffolk Council - Paul Patterson retired this week.
Having worked in local government all his career, around 70 people turned out to honour Mr Patterson's many achievements at a special event on Wednesday at Riverside, Lowestoft.
Gifts were opened, stories and memories were shared and a retirement cake was cut as friends and colleagues past and present united to pay tribute to Mr Patterson's long service.
Mr Patterson, 64, has been involved with numerous coastal protection schemes, beach and harbour works over the years - including major projects at Corton, Southwold and Lowestoft South Beach and most recently at Sizewell.
He said: "I began working for Waveney (District Council) in 1975.
"I left school on the Friday and knocked on the door on the Monday morning.
"I had seen an advert for trainee civil engineering technicians and although I had absolutely no idea what a workplace would be like, the job really appealed and I joined the council with two other trainees.
"I was based in an office on White Horse Street in Lowestoft and for the first six months I followed a number of teams around from drainage, highways and amenities."
From there, Mr Patterson went onto work in a special projects team investigating drainage problems in town, before switching to the coastal management team from 1985.
He said: "I've also been lucky to work with some incredible people; bright and interesting colleagues who you can learn so much from.
"I grew up in Lowestoft and I was lucky enough to have responsibility for the future of the beaches I used to play on as a child.
"For the past four and a half decades, I have lived among the people I served and I felt an enormous connection, which will never fade."
Admitting he has "always learnt new things", Mr Patterson said: "I've been very fortunate to be able to work on the Suffolk coast for so long.
"Fortunately I've had some great managers who have given me opportunities to develop and progress my career.
"But now I am ready to step aside.
"I feel that I have put in a shift and it is time to pass the baton on to colleagues coming in with different skills to me.
"I will certainly miss the people.
"I've been very touched by the number of people who came today to say farewell, people outside the organisation who travelled far to be here - I've been touched by that.
"I enjoy walking along the beach in my free time, and this will continue in retirement - so if I see something I will be sure to bring it to the attention of my colleagues."
Reflecting on "one of the best achievements of my career", Mr Patterson said the coastal protection works project at Corton "was special" and a highlight for him, given what was achieved with limited funding and budget.
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