Estates and colleagues from across the Trust gave Gary Ashton a grand send-off.

Gary joined the NHS in 1981 at Storthes Hall Hospital after six years  in The Royal Navy.

He came to HRI as Deputy Support Services Manager in August 1989 and was appointed as Trust Support Services Manager in August 1994

In 2003 he was appointed as General Manager (Facilities) after the merger with Halifax.

He said: “ I have thoroughly enjoyed my working life and am grateful to the Trust for having been a part of it. I shall be spending time doing upgrading work on the house plus following Yorkshire cricket through the summer and Huddersfield Town through the winter months.”