Friday, September 18, 2009

End of an era retirement Do

On the way home tonight I stopped off at a traditional Tower Hamlets “leaving do” which was being held to celebrate the retirement from the Council of Richard “Dickie” Fenn after 40 years of service to the local community.

Dickie was the team leader of the Emergency Call Out service who would turn out rain or shine, day or night, 7 days a week to deal with the aftermath of fire, floods, storms and all the other borough disasters.

The IRA probably posed the greatest challenge due to the widespread destruction following the Dockland bombings in 1996 when his team had to board up smashed windows to some 500 council residential properties. As a housing officer you knew you could simply reply on Dickie and his team to turn out and deal effectively with practically any emergency you could throw at them. He was an example of the "old school" council worker at its very best.

Dickie started off as a caretaker in the GLC during 1969 and was then transferred to Tower Hamlets Council following its demise.

The “Do” was held at the Calder Wharf Community Centre on the Isle of Dogs. It is probably one of the best located community resources in East London, right on the banks of the Thames overlooking Greenwich Naval college. The sunset was stunning!

There was a good turnout of people to join Dickie and his family and help them celebrate his retirement. People who I haven’t seen for years. Of course there was also a free bar and buffet. I have no doubt that the celebrations are still going on now (its only 22.25).

During the semi formal presentations there was some fond traditional teasing of Dickie by his manager comparing 1969 with today – for example Dickie’s alleged career long reluctance to pay into the Tea club since he considered this to be part of his GLC Green book terms and conditions - and that when he was employed as a GLC housing caretaker, his wife had to be interviewed as well as him to make sure that she was “suitable”.

There is one story that was not mentioned that I remember that sums up the man best and an era that has now long gone.

In the 1980’s he was a Head caretaker in Bow and he went to visit a property that had been allocated to a new member of his residential caretaking team. As he entered the flat he found the Caretaker’s pregnant wife with two young toddlers in tears at the state of the flat which was damp, mouldy and totally unfit - which should never had been let to anyone – never mind one of his caretakers. Dickie looked around the home and told the wife to pack up since he was moving them. He then arranged for the family to be moved and stormed off to senior managers and successfully demanded a new and decent home that same very day.

The actual caretaker himself wasn’t aware what had happened until he went home that night to find his old home empty.

(I forgot my camera but others were taking pics so I will try and get a photo)

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