A top name in Bermudian broadcasting retired from the industry yesterday, 50 years after she started her career.

Darlene Livingston celebrated with Bermuda Broadcasting Company colleagues and received congratulations from David Burt, the Premier, and Sir John Swan, a former premier.

She said last night: “It was a lovely surprise, they both had very kind words.”

Ms Livingston added: “Some folks posted on social media, congratulating me and offering their best wishes.

“It’s a very warm feeling to have those kinds of accolades, for people to remember you; for people to have appreciated your work.”

Ms Livingston said she joined the broadcasting company at the age of 15 before she studied journalism in Ottawa.

She returned to Bermuda — although later lived in Chicago for a number of years — and her career included news director as well as programming manager for both radio and television.

Ms Livingston, who was once a cub reporter at The Royal Gazette, said: “I’m very proud of my work and I’m very pleased that people have enjoyed what I’ve done.”

Although she said she will miss the pace of daily news, the veteran journalist said she was looking forward to “taking a break”.

She will leave the island tomorrow to embark on a trip to Asia, that will include Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan and the Philippines.

The Bermuda Broadcasting Company said yesterday was a “special day” in a post on its Facebook page.

It added: “We held a special send off for our Darlene Livingston who today retires from the company after 50 years of service primarily in the news department.

“We will miss you Darlene.”