FROM clearing up after the great storm of 1987 to watching over one of the most haunted houses in Britain, the role of head of service at Brighton’s Royal Pavilion and Museums could never be seen as boring.

Janita Bagshawe has held the position for more than three decades, overseeing the £10 million redevelopment of Brighton Museum and telling the tales of some of the city’s most interesting historical figures alongside countless other projects.

But now, after 34 years, she has announced she is retiring from the role, and admitted there is plenty she will miss from her time with the museums.

Janita said: “I will miss seeing the fantastic work my colleagues do; my job as head of service has really been to enable them to deliver services including developing programmes to meet audience needs and the care of sites and collections.

“There is far more to be done by all of us to understand and bring to light untold stories, but I’m really proud of what staff in Brighton and Hove are doing to provide space for different voices, make collections more accessible and involve communities in curating exhibitions.”

Janita has worked tirelessly to engage young people with the city’s museums and was responsible for introducing pre-school education sessions at Brighton Museum.

She has also pursued her passion for sharing stories which may have otherwise gone unheard, with exhibitions such as those highlighting the role of the Royal Pavilion as a hospital for Indian soldiers during the First World War and the lives of trans people in the exhibition Museum of Transology proving popular with visitors.

Brighton and Hove’s Royal Pavilion and Museums will transfer to the Royal Pavilion & Museums Trust from October 1.

The city’s council says this charitable trust will help “ensure its sustainable future”.

Brighton and Hove City Council’s leader led the tributes to Janita’s outstanding efforts, saying she had left it in a strong position to transfer to the trust.

Phelim Mac Cafferty said: “Janita has made a tremendous contribution – a lifetime’s work – to the museums service over many years, leaving it in a strong position to transfer to Trust and move into a new chapter.”

“Her knowledge and perseverance have helped place our city’s jewel in the crown, the Royal Pavilion, on the map as an outstanding visitor attraction with an historic collection of international importance, while ensuring our museums continue to help enliven our city’s story. She will be terribly missed. I imagine I am among very many in the city who will want to wish her a long and enjoyable retirement.”