CONGRATULATIONS to York's own Old Father Time, Geoff Newey, above, on being made an MBE. A timely honour.

Mr Newey is one of those modest, behind-the-scenes individuals who keep York ticking over.

I don't know when he will finally retire from his civic and ecclesiastical, horological responsibilities, but we will all wish him well when he finally clocks off.

Maybe the city will club together to show its appreciation ... perhaps a nice clock would be appropriate!

Let's face it, so many of York's public and prominent clocks have been the subject of his attention and care down the years. The pointer to the future is who will succeed him?

As we are rather keen on titles in this country, ranging from Silver-Stick-In-Waiting to Pencil Monitor, should the city bestow a descriptive job title on Mr Newey?

Before the wags chime in, Watchfinder General would be inadmissable because Mr Newey has dealt with somewhat larger timepieces in his career of service to the City of York.

So, Happy New Year Geoff Newey MBE - I hope you enjoy all 8,760 hours of it.

Derek Reed,

Nunnery Lane,

York.

Updated: 09:25 Saturday, January 04, 2003