TWENTY-FIVE years after taking his first steps into the law, a legal chartered executive who has worked in Calne, Devizes and Royal Wootton Bassett is retiring.

Peter Johnson has spent 18 years working for Awdry Bailey & Douglas across a number of towns in Wiltshire despite it not being his first choice for a profession.

“It was my second career, I was just turning 40 having been an archaeologist and I thought let’s try something different,” said the 65-year-old.

“We had a long term excavation project at Littlecote Park near Hungerford which was under private ownership and when the excavation finished in 1991 the funding came to an end.

“My partner was already working for Awdry Bailey and Douglas and she said they were looking for people to do injury claims.

“I don’t know what they saw in me but they took me on.”

Since then, Mr Johnson has worked at four different branches, including being manager at the Calne branch and most recently in Royal Wootton Bassett where he has been based for three years.

He plans to spend his retirement with his partner, Marcia, who he has been with for 30 years, as well as volunteer for the National Trust.

“In a way I’m going back into archaeology,” he said.

“I’m going to be volunteering in Avebury giving guided tours of the stone circle and manor house and I’m quite keen on golf so I will be doing more of that.

“The best part of the job has been the people, no question of it I’m sad to go and the work in a way I will miss it.

“It’s a difficult responsibility to get right, you’re dealing with wills, probates and power of attorney and you can’t get anything wrong.”