THE chairman of the York Archaeological Trust is set to step down at the end of the month.

Gerald Dean, who has held the position since September 1995, and who is also a City of York councillor for the Micklegate ward, will retire at the trust's annual general meeting on September 28.

The trust has announced that the chairman-elect is Peter Vaughan, who is a city councillor for Huntington and New Earswick, and was York's Millennium Lord Mayor.

Paying tribute to the work of Gerald Dean, trust director Peter Addyman recalled a string of achievements under his chairmanship, most recently the complete rebuilding of the Jorvik Viking Centre and its successful relaunch as one of the nation's most popular tourist attractions.

Mr Addyman added: "Right at the start of his chairmanship, Gerald Dean led a reorganisation of the trust and its establishment in its new headquarters in Ogleforth.

"Since then he has guided us to a number of major achievements.

"There have been very successful excavations - not least this summer's highly popular St Leonard's Hospital excavation.

"Under his leadership the trust has published 17 major books on the archaeology of York. There have been achievements, too, in presenting the past to the people, as in Jorvik, in reorganising the trust's popular ARC (Archaeological Resource Centre) in St Saviourgate, and in creating the sensory garden there this summer."

Coun Vaughan said: "Gerald Dean will be a hard act to follow, but I look forward to trying."

He already has experience of the trust, having been its president during his term as Lord Mayor.

Updated: 11:19 Monday, September 10, 2001