COLCHESTER solicitor and former senior partner Bryn Smart has retired after more than 30 years with Ellisons law firm.Mr Smart, who was born in the town and is a former pupil of Gilberd School, started at Page Ward and Daykin solicitors as a trainee legal executive.

COLCHESTER solicitor and former senior partner Bryn Smart has retired after more than 30 years with Ellisons law firm.

Mr Smart, who was born in the town and is a former pupil of Gilberd School, started at Page Ward and Daykin solicitors as a trainee legal executive.

In 1966, he moved to London and worked for two major London law firms. After passing his Legal Executive examinations he returned to Colchester to work with the late Harold Oldman at John Fowler Oldman & Co.

He took his Law Society Part I examinations via a correspondence course and in 1974, went on a full-time course at the College of Law and passed his Law Society Part II examinations.

He was admitted as a solicitor in 1976, and joined Ellisons shortly afterwards as a partner. He spent the next eight years at the firm's Dovercourt office, lecturing in law part-time at Ipswich Civic College.

In 1984, he moved to the Colchester office, where he has been based since.

In 1994, he was appointed a deputy district judge in the county court and will continue with those judicial duties after his retirement. He will also continue as a consultant for Ellisons. He is one of the country's longest qualified notaries public and will continue in that role as well.

Mr Smart, who has four children and one grandson and a wife, Jane, hopes to spend more time travelling and at his cottage in France.

Peter Powell, who became senior partner at Ellisons after Mr Smart, said: “He is still too young to retire and we shall miss him enormously. However, we respect his wishes and know that his experience and knowledge will still be available to us as and when required, and wish him a long and healthy retirement.”