Hello Dear Colleagues and Friends,

I am writing to let you all know that after working for 37 years in pensions for Devon County Council (DCC), I will be leaving my role, my last working day being Wednesday 30 April 2025.

The decision was not taken lightly but was the right one for me, and does also tie in with my 55 birthday!

I have grown up working for DCC and taken on many roles with my goal always to do my best and help people where I can.

I’ve met a lot of people on the way and some have become friends as well as colleagues, be that within the team, employers or external contacts. They have seen me through good times and more importantly through bad times and I am forever grateful to them.   

I have loved working with you, our Scheme employers and payroll providers. We may not of always seen eye to eye but we always navigate a way through, working together to move things forward for your employees/our scheme members.

My final years in pensions as the Employer & Communications Strategic Lead have seen me look after a fabulous area, who work very hard, help and support each other in their roles, laugh and cry together. No doubt a few more tears will be shed in the next couple of weeks.  

Gareth Shackler who joined Peninsula Pensions last Summer will be taking over the role from 1 May and I wish him well.   

The plan now is to do some travelling with my husband, have more family time and just enjoy life. Switching the work/life balance to life with possibly a little work thrown in every so often.

I wish you all the very best for the future.

Shirley Cuthbert

Peninsula Pensions

Employer & Communications Strategic Lead