A WELLING policeman is about to retire as the Metropolitan Police's longest-serving sergeant.

Ivor Gwyn has chalked up nearly 38 years in the Met and retires at the end of this month, when he reaches his 60th birthday the age limit for serving officers.

Sergeant Gwyn was born in Hertfordshire. He left school at 15 and went to work down the mines. He won a scholarship after a year and became an apprentice mining surveyor. But in 1963, he opted for a change of career and joined the Metropolitan Police. After spending three years in uniform, he went into the CID where he remained for the rest of his career.

He plans to spend his well-earned retirement indulging in his hobbies of fishing, golfing and gardening.