West's interest in lock keeping began as a young boy when he would cycle from his hometown in Kingston to Teddington Lock, and stop to watch the boats passing by.

When he was just 16 years old, he took on part time work as a relief lock keeper at Teddington while training to be an accountant.

Aged 18, he gave up accountancy and became an assistant lock keeper at Teddington Lock, working there until 1965 when he moved to Eynsham Lock near Oxford.

He worked at Eynsham for a further four years before finally moving on to Sonning, which was to become his home for the next 31 years.

To commemorate his length of service, West was presented with the "lock keepers' stick".

This tradition, which originally started as a practical joke, has been passed down the line of longest serving lock keepers since 1984.

Brian will have his name engraved on the stick before passing it on to Brian Webb of Hurley Lock, who retires in September, after 37 years.