Loughton District and Town Councillor Stephen Murray has just completed 40 years of continuous elected service on Epping Forest District Council.

Cllr Murray was elected for the first time in 1982 and to mark this anniversary fellow members of Loughton Town Council shared a cake specially made for him.

He said: "After my re-election in May I am eagerly looking forward to my 41st year as a Loughton councillor."

He previously reflected on his tenure: “I have always represented a Loughton ward, 1982-1998 Loughton Broadway and 1998-2022 Loughton Roding, 1982-2003 as a Loughton Labour councillor and 2003-2022 as an Independent councillor, having been successfully elected in 10 district council elections and six parish council elections.

“During the last 40 years there have numerous campaigns and issues, some more successful than others, including the enforced closure of Epping Forest High School , Loughton County High School and Buckhurst Hill County High School in 1988/89.

“As an individual councillor these issues and campaigns have been important but for me the highlight of the last 40 years has always been the individual casework , the home visits and dealing with the individual issues and concerns raised by local residents."