By JOEL SAWYER

GEORGE Slevin has retired from one of the best jobs in the world - as an official quality taster for Burtonwood Brewery.

The 65-year-old has decided to call it a day after notching up 38 years' service at the brewery - a career which has seen him work as a cellarman and a brewery drayman.

In the past 30 years of his career, George has also worked in the technical services department, where his duties included surveying and installing the brewing equipment - as well as 'quality assurance', which involved tasting the beer to make sure it was up to scratch.

George said: "I had one of the best jobs in the world. Not many people get to drink beer as part of their job!

"But the bit of my career that I enjoyed the most was when I was on the road as a brewery drayman. It was great to visit all of Burtonwood's pubs up and down the country.

"I'm also going to miss my colleagues - after spending years working with people they become good friends and I'm sure we'll all keep in touch."

And George's colleagues ensured he left with a suitable reminder of his years at the brewery.

In addition to a retirement gift of a hi-fi and television, he was also presented with a hard hat that had a cardboard sun stuck on the back.

"I once mentioned to a colleague that the best way to find your way around was to follow the sun," added George. "So for a joke they gave me the special 'sun hat' that had a cartoon of me on it and a proper compass so I'd never get lost."

Now George is looking forward to getting back to his roots by returning to his first love of gardening.

"I've always loved gardening and I'm really going to enjoy spending some quality time outdoors," he added. "I'm also planning to do a spot of decorating and brush up on my DIY skills."