A MUCH-LOVED park keeper in Stourport has locked up his shed for the last time as he retires from the job after more than 30 years.

Terry Meredith has been mowing the grass and planting trees at Stourport War Memorial Park for 33 years and has become a familiar face among park visitors.

He could often be seen driving around the park on his tractor and will be particularly missed by his canine friends, many of which Terry knew by name.

His twin sister Maxine Colley, who lives in Bewdley, said: "Terry absolutely loves that park.

"We grew up in Bewdley Road and we always used to play there as a kid, he adores his park and is very sad to be leaving it.

"I used to go down and see him while he was at work and he would say to me that he didn't know everyone's name in the park, but he knew all the dogs' names. He's a real dog lover.

"He's got a bowl round the back of the community room where his shed is, and there's a sign that says something like 'one slurp £1, two slurps £1.50'.

"He used to take treats to work for the dogs too but he had to stop because they started following him around!"

Now aged 67, Terry first got the park keeper job after moving back to the area from Halesowen. He and Maxine were born at the old Lucy Baldwin Maternity Home and Terry now lives in a cottage in Areley Kings.

Terry has lost count of the number of trees he's planted during his career at the Memorial Park, but has one favourite tree he will be returning to visit during his retirement.

Maxine said: "He’s got one favourite tree in park - it's a yew tree I think. He also loves the copper beech.

"He's seen so much wildlife at the park over the years, including buzzards. He knows all the birds."

Maxine had hoped to hold a celebration of Terry's last day as park keeper on Monday, January 18, which unfortunately couldn't go ahead due to lockdown restrictions.

"I'm sure Terry will be missed by a lot of people," she said. "He certainly deserves his retirement. His hard work and diligence has greatly benefited the park.

"He is quite a quiet man who has never wanted recognition or a fuss, but just this once it would be nice to celebrate and wish him a happy and fulfilling retirement."