Councillors Wynne and Gretchen Rawlins have retired from Avebury parish council after a total of 77 years of service.

Retired motor engineer Mr Rawlins, 78, served for 50 years on the council, starting in 1957. He missed one four-year term after a mix-up over his election nomination.

Mrs Rawlins, 72, whose father ran a garage that once stood at Silbury Hill car park, has been clerk to the parish council for 23 years, has served on many village committees and was Avebury’s Kennet councillor for eight years.

Mrs Rawlins was also secretary at East Kennet School. In her role as parish clerk and Kennet councillor she served on the village’s Tourist group, Sacred Sites Forum, the Steering Group and the Solstice Operation planning committee.

She worked at the former Great Barn Folk Life Museum and as a council clerk she attended the Marlborough Area Board of Wiltshire Council and Marlborough and the Villages Community Area Partnership.

The pair have a daughter, Vanda, and son Nigel, who died in a road accident some years ago. They had to attend regular planning committees which were often held in their home behind the old village garage, which Mr Rawlins’ family used to run.

The pair have had a caravan for years but always had to arrange time away between their council duties.

Mr Rawlins said: “We have decided that at our stage in life we want to ease up a bit and spend more time away.”

Mrs Rawlins said: “For the first time in more than 50 years we are looking forward to some free time together.”