There were cheers, congratulations and a few tears at a Bristol law firm when its longest-serving employee retired after 48 years.

Roger Hodge joined Bevan Hancock solicitors as an office junior when he was just 16.

On Friday, after almost half a century of poring over legal documents, he walked out the front door of what is now Bevan Brittan for the last time.

More than 100 friends and colleagues, past and present, came to the office at the edge of Castle Park to bid him a fond farewell.

With his wife Vivienne by his side, he was toasted with three leaving speeches to mark nearly 50 years of service to the company.

Mr Hodge, 64, who lives in Bishop Sutton, joined Bevan Hancock on Baldwin Street in 1961, straight out of school.

As an office junior his main roles were making the tea and postal deliveries, for which he received the princely sum of £3.50 a week.

Mr Hodge said: "I look back on it now and it wasn't the Earth, but it went a fair way.

"I had a motorbike and I spent most of the money getting it repaired and putting petrol in the tank."

After a year he joined the debt recovery department as a junior and he then went on to spend 28 years in the matrimony department, before moving into personal injury work and finally social housing. But despite working for the firm for so long, he never actually qualified as a solicitor.

Mr Hodge said: "I was a Jack of all trades, master of none.

"I was content with my lot as a legal executive, really. I often did the same as a solicitor but always made it clear to clients that I wasn't one. I just didn't really feel the need to qualify."

Now, after 48 years in the same firm, he admits it will be strange to finally leave.

He said: "I don't feel my age, I'm in reasonably good health and I have never stopped, but I have only recently thought 48 years was a long time.

"At one stage I wanted a change and considered joining the fire service, but I am glad I stayed and have no regrets."

But he admits that it will be strange not to be back at work today, adding: "The build-up to my leaving felt like I was going on holiday, and the realisation that I won't be coming back hasn't sunk in yet, and probably won't for a couple of months. It will be strange."

Now he plans to "suck it and see", and to enjoy a bit of walking and cycling.

Whatever he does, it will be with his wife Vivienne, whom he married when he was 26.

He said: "I have spent more time with the company than I have with her, so I definitely want to spend my retirement with my wife."

Kane Kirkbride, head of commercial dispute resolution at Bevan Brittan and Mr Hodge's boss for the last five years, said he would be greatly missed.

Mr Kirkbride said: "It has been a pleasure and an honour to work alongside Roger."