London's longest-serving macebearer has hung up his ceremonial jacket after serving Croydon's mayors for almost four decades.

Len Chappell has clocked up thousands of miles during his 37-year stint as mayoral chauffeur and ceremonial macebearer, but now the 65-year-old has retired he is looking forward to having a well-earned rest and spending some quality time with his family.

Since joining Croydon Council in 1966, Len has served 37 mayors from Albert Bertie' Dunn through to current outgoing mayor Jane Avis, also acting as a guard to protect the mayoral ceremonial chains.

"You can always replace the mayor but you can't replace the chains," jokes Len. "I say that in jest, of course, but we look after the chain more than we do the mayor. It's over 100 years old and made from solid Victorian gold."

Len, 65, who lived with his wife in Sanderstead, has moved to West Sussex to spend more time with his two sons and four granddaughters.

After working for the council's highways department for two years, he became a part-time macebearer in 1968, but by 1970 the job became permanent.

He is London's longest-serving mayoralty officer and will be honoured at a special dinner hosted by the Croydon Mayors' Association on June 5.

Len, who was born and bred in Croydon, says: "It's quite an honour to drive the borough's number one citizen around town.

"It certainly isn't a nine-to-five job and it can sometimes be unsociable.

"When I first started out you could never speak to the mayor unless you were spoken to first, but nowadays you get to know mayors and their families very well during their term.

"Each mayor has stamped their own unique mark on the job, no two have been the same. I don't have a favourite, they have all been wonderful to work with. Although I did find it hard to keep up with Stuart Collins," laughs Len.

Spending so much time with Croydon's mayors must have given Len a steady supply of anecdotes from his 37 years in service, but the dedicated macebearer is remaining tight-lipped.

"You won't get anything like that from me. I'm no Paul Burrell, any secrets I have will go to the grave with me. And that's that."