The leader of the trade union movement on the Scunthorpe Tata Steel works has retired from the industry after 38 years.

Mick Fell, a 56-year-old father of two, took over as chairman of the works multi-union committee in August 2008 in the wake of the worst recession the industry had faced in 50 years.

At the time, he warned his colleagues that there were tough times and big changes ahead.

Since then, the trade unions in Scunthorpe have seen major areas of the site either closed or mothballed and last May Tata Steel announced 1,200 jobs in the town were to be axed.

He told the Telegraph: “I have enjoyed every minute of my time at Tata Steel, even through the bad times. It has been a great pleasure to have represented the employees.

“My main priority during my retirement is to get back to full health. I have been poorly for the past two years.”

Mr Fell joined the industry as a production operative in the former 15-inch mill at Appleby-Frodingham after leaving the town’s Foxhills College.

His 34-year association with the trade union Community and its predecessor, the Iron and Steel Trade Confederation (ISTC), spanned 34 years and saw him elected a health and safety representative at Scunthorpe Anchor Rail Traffic in 1982.

In 1999, he was appointed to the national executive council of the ISTC and became the union’s vice-president in 2004 and, the following year, the last-ever president.

In 2008, he was elected a trustee of the British Steel Pension Fund – one of the most profitable in Europe.

Community’s national general secretary Michael Leahy, who travelled to Scunthorpe for a special presentation ceremony, said: “Mick Fell has served with distinction at all levels of the union since 1982.

“Mick’s contribution will be greatly missed, but I know he will continue to be a committed member of the union. We wish him well.”

Industrial relations manager for Tata Steel, Mike Close, said: “Mick Fell has been a well-respected and proactive trade union representative for many years. He has worked hard to ensure the voices of his trade union members have been heard and chaired the multi-union works committee during the very challenging recession of 2009.”

Mr Fell’s place as chairman of the multi-union committee will be taken by his former deputy and ex-Rod Mill worker, Sean Scorer.