Ready to retire after 55 years

Customers were invited to a party at Gascoines estate agents in Southwell on Tuesday to bid a happy retirement to one of the company’s best-known employees.

Mrs Rita Rippin,72, of Southwell, has worked for the company for 55 years and joined as an office junior at the age of 17 after leaving Newark Technical College.

It was not long before her hard work was recognised and Mrs Rippin was appointed as secretary to the owner, Mr Douglas Gascoine.

He was unable to join her for her retirement celebrations but a card from himself and his wife, Mrs Rachel Gascoine, was among the highlights of her day.

Mrs Rippin took a short maternity break to have her sons but was soon back working part-time with Mr Gascoine’s mother, Alice, looking after the rental properties.

She has also worked in the sales department and as customer service assistant for building societies run as agencies within Gascoines. Her last position has been with the Loughborough Building Society.

'I have always felt very happy in my job'

“I have seen many changes over the years but I have always enjoyed helping people,” Mrs Rippin said.

She said she had been keen to retire ahead of the winter.

“I have always felt very happy in my job. I have always enjoyed going to work and very rarely had a day off sick,” she said.

Her retirement will give her time to spend with her family — her son, Simon, and his wife, Sue, live in Southwell with their children, Shane and Niamh. Her other son, Jonathan, and his wife, Laura, live near Cambridge with children Jarrad and Amelia.

Mrs Rippin is a member of Halam and Southwell (evening) WIs and looks after the bookings for the WI hall.

She is a member of Holy Trinity Church, Southwell, where she helps run a ladies’ group.

She is a member of Farnsfield Friendship Club and enjoys going on holiday and day trips.