Rotherham 'legal eagle' retires.

Rotherham Borough Council's top 'legal eagle' retires this month (June) after an incredible 40 years service in local government.

Assistant Chief Executive Tim Mumford, who has been head of Legal and Democratic Services at the council for the past 24 years, is to retire on June 30.

The former Rotherham Grammar School student started work at the former Rotherham Rural District Council in May 1971 as a trainee solicitor, after gaining a law degree from Lincoln College, Oxford, followed by Guildford's College of Law.

He swiftly gained promotion and was made director in 1987. Throughout his career he has seen many various changes, including the massive re-organisation of local government in 1974, when Rotherham became a metropolitan borough.

Last month Coun. Roger Stone, Leader of Rotherham Borough Council, publicly thanked Tim for his service at the authority's Annual Council Meeting. He said: "Tim has been a stalwart of this council for 40 years and has been a reliable source of good advice. He has been an outstanding council officer and is well-known for helping everyone - councillors, officers and the public alike -in his usual calm, responsible and courteous manner."

Martin Kimber, Chief Executive of Rotherham Borough Council, described Tim as an excellent officer and a man of great integrity who will be sorely missed by the authority. 

He added: "Tim often had to give advice that may not have been popular, but he did so with humour and humility. You always knew his advice represented his genuine view and was offered with the best interests of the council as a whole in mind.  I wish Tim a long happy and healthy retirement."

Tim said: "Forty years does sound like a long time but actually it has flown by and I can genuinely say that I have enjoyed my work and enjoyed working with some great colleagues over the years. Local government is never boring, specially when you work for a metropolitan authority such as Rotherham, which deals with so many different functions. It has also been particularly interesting to experience the various changes in local government over the years and I am proud to have been part of such a good organisation. I would like to thank all my colleagues who have helped and supported me over the years."

Following his retirement Tim intends to spend more time with his family. He met his wife, Mary, when they both worked for the former Rotherham Rural District Council. They have five children and three grandchildren.