After 35 years in politics, Norm Doyle officially retires from the Senate today, this being his 75th birthday.

Doyle had been an ironworker before he was first elected to the House of Assembly in 1979 as the PC member for Harbour Main, spending 14 years in the provincial legislature.

He was later elected to the House of Commons in 1997, representing the riding of St. John’s East until 2008, in total running up a string of eight election wins in a row.

From there, it was on to the Senate in 2012.

Doyle has no firm plans for his retirement but expects his grandchildren will play a large role. He says he plans to seek out some role in the volunteer sector but mostly spend more time with his two grandchildren, aged 13 and 11.

75 is the mandatory retirement age for Senators. Doyle’s departure leaves this province with five senators, and now one vacancy.