STAN Rhodes, the first and only caretaker at the Swinegate Quarter, in York, was putting away his brush and hanging up his keys today for the very last time.

Sixty-five-year-old Stan is celebrating a triple first. He was the first caretaker to work in Swinegate, when it opened in 1993; he was the first caretaker to work for the Oakgate Group, which bought Swinegate from General Accident in 1995; and he is the first caretaker to retire.

But this is the second time that Stan, of Greenshaw Drive, Wigginton, near York, has retired himself. He left the Royal Mail Delivery Office in Leeman Road, where he was delivery office manager, 13 years ago.

"My dad worked for the Post Office and died when he was only 54," said Stan. "I was determined to take early retirement and make sure I got that Post Office pension that dad didn't!"

More than 100 family, friends and colleagues joined Stan at a surprise birthday and retirement party at the Tasting Rooms in Swinegate on Thursday night. He was presented with a cheque, a special pig brick (the Swinegate symbol) and a family portrait by Alison Stewart, the property director of Oakgate.

Stan is York born and bred. Born in Water Lane, Clifton, he was educated at Haxby Road Primary School and St John's Secondary School in Lord Mayor's Walk.

Stan, who is looking forward to enjoying his second retirement with his wife Maureen, his children Karen and Jackie and five grandchildren, said: "I will miss my job, but I have lots of plans for my retirement. We have a timeshare in Lanzarote, which we love, and I will enjoy not getting up at dawn every day."

Updated: 10:12 Monday, April 26, 2004