ONE of Trafford council's most senior officers is hanging up his cap after almost 30 years work with the authority.

George Cogswell is quitting his job as manager of the parks, allotments and green spaces in the borough.

Mr Cogswell, aged 57, left his job as deputy manager of an Essex swimming baths to join Trafford Council in 1970 as Swimming Baths Manager.

Despite his dismay at seeing the original and dilapidated Sale Swimming Baths, he accepted the post with a view to running the all-new Sale Leisure Centre - one of only half a dozen such centres in the country at that time.

And visitors to the groundbreaking Centre came from all over the north west - many of whom had never seen a squash court before.

"You could say we were the pioneers of the leisure centres, although we were overwhelmed at the start," says George.

Twenty years later, after a few job reshuffles and changes at the council, George became manager of the parks, allotments and green spaces in Trafford -a job which had its fair share of joy and heartache.

George has two daughters and three grandchildren and lives in Sale. He said: "I have had a very varied and enjoyable career and helping to set up Sale Leisure Centre is a source of great pride for me."

He plans to spend his retirement pursuing his hobbies which include, local history, woodwork, his Home Front Museum at Sale Leisure Centre, stamp collecting and helping on battle tours for Canadian and Pacific war vets.

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