Douglas Borough Council’s Finance Director, Geoffrey Bolt, has retired after seventeen and a half years serving the Council, bringing to a close a career in local government spanning 43 years.

At a reception held in his honour at Douglas Town Hall Her Worship the Mayor, Councillor Debbie Pitts JP, paid tribute to Mr Bolt for his dedication and loyalty to the Council.

Offering a snapshot of Mr Bolt’s career Chief Executive Kathleen Rice said he had been ‘a consummate team member and corporate player’ and ‘a mainstay and support to Members of the Council and his colleagues’.

Mr Bolt began his career in local government in 1974 as a technical clerk with North Tyneside Metropolitan District Council. In 1978 he took up a post as audit assistant with Peterborough City Council and in 1986 became chief accountant at Rother District Council, before joining Douglas Borough Council in November 2000 as Borough Treasurer.

Speaking on behalf of her fellow Chief Officers Director of Housing Sue Harrison spoke of Mr Bolt’s determination and commitment to developing new financial procedures and processes. She also thanked him for his advice and support and said he would be leaving the Finance Department ‘in a good place’ to manage the challenges ahead.

The Mayor with Mr Bolt and his daughter Cloella Bolt

Assistant Chief Officer (Income) Catherine Pulman, speaking on behalf of the Finance Department team, added that Mr Bolt had been a ‘great leader and mentor’ and had created a ‘motivated workforce’.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor David Christian MBE JP, praised Mr Bolt for his stewardship of the Isle of Man Local Government Pension Fund and thanked him for his support and wise counsel during the annual budget process. He said he considered Mr Bolt as not only a colleague but also a friend who, in retirement, could look back on his years of service to the Council ‘as a job well and truly done’.

In his reply Mr Bolt outlined how the Finance Department had ‘come a long way’ over the past 17 years and praised his colleagues for their support and commitment to delivering new financial methodologies. In closing he said he was leaving secure in the knowledge that the Finance team was formed of a body of men and women with ‘superb knowledge’ to support the Council for years to come.