MERKINCH Enterprise is to lose one of its stalwarts, Steve Bell, who is going back to his first love, driving buses.

Steve, who gained an Open University degree in Maths and Computing in 1990, first became interested in computers as a boy in Romsey, Hants where his father was an engineer with IBM. He came to Merkinch Enterprise as a trainee in 1994 and continued as a volunteer until he joined the staff in 1996.

Whilst with ME, Steve has been the main IT backroom boy and is to a large extent responsible for the success that ME enjoys today. Indeed, so keen is he that he frequently comes in on Saturdays to do voluntary work. Away from Grant Street his main interest is in World War II aviation.

Said Colin Downie, ME’s Project Manager, "We are sorry to see Steve go and wish him well for the future."