THE FIRST thing Linda Harris did when she retired from Potburys on Friday was to take off her watch. Sidmothian Mrs Harris, who is 60 in October, has worked for the Sidmouth company for more than 30 years, both with auctioneer Mike Willey and in the store

THE FIRST thing Linda Harris did when she retired from Potburys on Friday was to take off her watch. Sidmothian Mrs Harris, who is 60 in October, has worked for the Sidmouth company for more than 30 years, both with auctioneer Mike Willey and in the store's offices. "I don't need to be clock watching anymore," said Mrs Harris, who was given a great send-off by staff with cards, gifts and balloons. "I had a lovely bouquet of flowers from Mr Willey, who also gave a speech," said Mrs Willey, who received garden tokens too. "I was gob-smacked by it all." Mrs Harris joined the company in 1965, left in 1974, but went back 23 years ago. When a teenager in the town she worked for John Govier who owned a shop near the seafront. "I was born at Salcombe Hill. It was very different here in the 60s. Nearly everyone I worked with has died." "I used to work in the estate agents at Potburys in 1965. That was sold off and I worked in the funeral department. When that was sold I answered 'phones and did administration. I loved working at the auction rooms. "I just decided it was time to go, I wanted to have the summer with my dog Rosie, who is a Rottweiler." Money she and her late husband Richard; a former manager at Fields until his death five years ago, had saved to buy a home in the Greek islands will now be used to help Mrs Harris enjoy travelling around England with her dog "using my dog-friendly hotel guide." Mother of two sons and a year-old grandson, she added: "I just love Sidmouth and never want to live anywhere else.