David Goldin, one of the most respected figures in the property business in Sussex, is handing in his keys.

Mr Goldin, who joined the firm of Fox and Sons in 1961 and rose to become regional director, retires from the firm this week after 40 years and one month with the company.

For the past 20 years, he has also taken on the role of auctioneer.

He is considering a number of ways of spending his retirement and none of them includes a lot of relaxation, although he does hope to enjoy a little travelling with his wife Elizabeth.

He said: "I'm not one for spending a lot of time on the golf course or in the garden. I like to meet people and enjoy helping them, so I will be keeping busy."

He joined the company as a junior negotiator and the first property he sold was a bungalow in Glen Rise, Brighton, which went for £2,750. If the property was on the market today, it would command a price tag in excess of £250,000.

A member of Holland Road Baptist Church, a director of Hove YMCA, a member of Gideons International and a trustee of the Argus Appeal, Mr Goldin has worked tirelessly for charity in his spare time.

In 1984, he was appointed president of the Brighton, Hove and District Auctioneers' and Estate Agents' Association and Sussex president of the National Association of Estate Agents.

He has served on a number of committees during his career.

He said: "After 40 years, retirement is going to be hard to get used to but I'm looking forward to being able to do things at an easier pace.

"The most difficult thing will be leaving the people I work with. We have worked well as a team and the success of the company is very much down to them and their attitude. They are really like a second family to me. I have the greatest respect for them all."

Over the years, Mr Goldin has seen property values rise by 1,000 per cent and banks, building societies and insurance companies move into the property market, taking over many smaller independent agents, including Fox and Sons, which was bought by Royal Insurance, now Royal and Sun Alliance.

He has seen interest rates rise as high as 15 per cent and negative equity when property prices fell leaving people paying back loans on properties worth much less than they had paid and witnessed the bottom falling out of the property market.

He admits, had it not been for the new owners, Fox and Son could have gone out of business in the early Nineties.

He said: "As I leave the property business, I feel it is in good shape. But with falling stock market prices there is a growing amount of uncertainty which will put a halt to the steep rise in property prices we have seen in recent years.

"There could be less money about and valuers will have to make adjustments. But the key to the property market is confidence and if people have confidence, prices will hold and we won't be in a boom and bust situation.

"The buoyancy of the property market has a great effect on the overall economy. As we saw in the days of the recession, when the property market is not doing well there is a knock-on effect right through business and society.

"The banks and building societies are involved, as is the legal profession.

"Then there are removal firms, builders and decorators, paint and furniture manufacturers, plumbers, electricians - the list goes on."

When Mr Goldin joined Fox and Sons, there was just one office covering the area from Brighton to Seaford.

Now the company has 70 offices and a more than 150 staff.

He added: "Our business is still very much a people business. It is by our commitment to customer service we are measured and that is something on which we must not compromise."