Sacked museums boss Arthur Wright heaved a sigh of relief yesterday as his 18-month dispute with Southend Council finally came to an end.

Solicitors acting for the borough made an out of court cash settlement with the ex-chief cultural officer ahead of a five-day industrial tribunal.

Mr Wright, who was fired amid allegations of sexual harassment, spoke of his "terrible" ordeal.

He said: "It's a great relief to have it all over and done with. We don't have to think about it any more.

"But what is really hard to cope with is that I didn't have one friend among my former colleagues - even after working with some of them for 24 years.

"That was the biggest shock of all. People at work were like my second family - I wanted to look after them as I looked after my own family.

"It was the trauma and grief of losing them throughout this whole saga that really took their toll."

Mr Wright, 51, was suspended in September 1997 just as his wife Judith received treatment for Multiple Sclerosis with trials of a trail-blazing drug.

She now works for a Chelmsford-based charity which offers help, support and advice to MS sufferers.

He said: "If she had been ill when all this came up, I think it would have finished her off. Thankfully, it all started to happen as she was getting back on her feet. Now, she's certainly an inspiration to other people."

Mr Wright was sacked in May last year after an internal disciplinary hearing called by council officers.

He admitted to a consensual relationship with a 28-year-old woman from May 1996 to July 1997.

But at the hearing, he faced one charge of sexual harassment as the main disciplinary argument.

He later launched an appeal, heard by a panel of councillors, which upheld the initial decision.

He then vowed to take the council to an industrial tribunal for unfair dismissal. He lamented: "This really doesn't compensate for losing everything in one go - not just a job, but a career."

Mr Wright, who lives in St John's Road, Chelmsford, is optimistic about the future. He said: "I do have plans - one of them is to sit down and write."

A Southend Council spokeswoman said: "Mr Wright was pursuing an unfair dismissal claim against the council. However, a settlement was reached without any admission of liability on behalf of the council and Mr Wright is no longer a council employee."

Relief - Arthur Wright

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