Certainly keep the Chief Clerk option open.
In the '70's, the future, (first) Mrs Taxydual was 'warned' about a NE posting whilst recovering from being hit by a motor car in Doncaster.
The Chief Clerk was excellent and 'solved' all her worries.
I'm certain the fact that it was his son who was driving the car that hit her, had no bearing at all on the Chief Clerks' excellent service.