A SPECIAL lunch was held at the House of Commons to celebrate the retirement of former Fenland District Council leader Geoff Harper.

NE Cambs MP, Steve Barclay, hosted the event which was attended by Cllr Harper, his wife Judith and other senior Cabinet figures including local government minister Eric Pickles. Many other councillors, friends and family of the former FDC leader also attended the event.

Cllr Harper, who was first elected as a councillor in 1999, led Fenland District Council from 2005 until 2009.

MP Barclay said: “After so many years of service to the people of Fenland and the Conservative Party, I was delighted to host a lunch in Geoff’s honour in the House of Commons.

“It is a mark of the high esteem in which Geoff is held that so many people wanted to take the time to celebrate his career and we wish him and Judith well in their retirement.”

The Rt Hon Eric Pickles presented a letter to Cllr Harper from David Cameron to mark his retirement after his 40 years’ service.

Cllr Harper has had a distinguished career within the Conservative Party which included working on 11 parliamentary campaigns. He will retire in May.