ONE of Newport Crown Court’s most familiar faces hung up his robes last week after more than 15 years in the job.

Ken Drave, 69, started working as an usher at the courts in 1993 after leaving his job with the National Grid.

Since then Mr Drave has seen thousands of defendants, witnesses and jurors, pass through the building, but after 17 years of keeping the courts running smoothly he has decided it is time to retire.

Mr Drave, who lives in Llantarnam with his wife Ann, said: “I’ve enjoyed meeting all the people who come through the courts and I’m going to miss my colleagues the most. They’ve been great and they’re a great bunch of people.”

Colleagues at Newport Crown Court gave Mr Drave a happy retirement party and he was guest of honour at a special surprise party at the Parc Golf Club.

Now he has some spare time on his hands, Mr Drave, who has two children and three grandchildren, said he will be doing a bit of work on his children’s allotments, going for walks, and might try to fit in a holiday or two.