After more than a decade, Roger Phillips is stepping down from the role of Clerk of Tynwald.

Originally from Worcestershire, Mr Phillips spent 27 years as a House of Commons Clerk, starting in 1981 at the age of 25.

He rose through the ranks from Assistant Clerk to Senior Clerk to Deputy Principal Clerk by 1991.

In 2008, he saw an advertisement for the Clerk of Tynwald job, and his interest in Tynwald from years’ previous was piqued.

He said the island instantly felt like home.

He said: ’I came here with my wife for the job interview and neither of us had been to the island before. We walked around Douglas and we were getting a sense of what it was like, and we liked the place straight away.

’Looking back it seems a very off-the-cuff important decision, but actually sometimes they’re the right ones.

’It just clicked. I was offered the job on the day and I said "Yes, I’ll do it" and it’s been great. It’s exceeded my expectations, it’s been lovely.’

Known the world over as the oldest continuous parliamentary body in the world, Mr Phillips explained how the deep-rooted history of Tynwald is inescapable.

He said: ’[Tynwald] drew me in because of what it does today, rather than its history. I mean you can’t work here without being aware of its extraordinary history, and taking part in Tynwald Day is always a pleasure because every time I walk down the processional way I think "people have been doing this since before 1417, and they’ve probably been doing something like this for 1,000 years".

’How many jobs involve doing a ceremony that is of that antiquity? There’s a really wonderful connection with all our forebears that we do the same thing every year, and it’s a national event.’

When asked what he would miss most about his time at Tynwald, Mr Phillips gave credit to both members and staff on his team, who he said have been ’so kind and supportive.’

He said: ’It’s the team organisation that I’ve enjoyed hugely, and I think probably that is what I am going to miss most, because all the things that we achieve is a team effort.

’Everything that I’ve done that has been of any value has actually been delivered by other people under my supervision. I’ve been really fortunate in having a great team, so that’s something I’m going to miss.’

Mr Phillips leaves in September.