September 15, 2014 12.22 pm This story is over 114 months old

City council housing director retires after 24 years

Housing career: In 1974, John Bibby accepted a temporary summer job as a council housing assistant. 24 years later, he’s retiring after a busy career in local government.
The City of Lincoln Council Director of Housing and Community Services, John Bibby (Right) with the leader of the city council Ric Metcalfe. Photo: Stuart Wilde

The City of Lincoln Council’s Director of Housing and Community Services will be retiring this week.

In 1974, John Bibby accepted a temporary summer job as a council housing assistant. Some 24 years later, he’s retiring from his post as Director of Housing and Community Services on Friday, September 19.

The Mayor of Lincoln, Councillor Brent Charlesworth, hosted a dinner at the Guildhall on Wednesday, September 10 to mark Mr Bibby’s years of service to the council.

He took his first position at St Helens Borough Council with the expectation of working for the season before going on to university.

However, he enjoyed his work so much he ended up staying and from there his career, which has always had housing at the core, took off.

Mr Bibby arrived in Lincoln in January 1990, taking on the position of Director of Housing and Environmental Health, and has enjoyed the years he’s spent in local government.

John said: “I started as an accountant with the Royal Insurance Group in Liverpool. I did my first year’s accountancy training but decided it wasn’t for me.

“I was thinking of going back to university but took what I thought would be a temporary summer job with St Helens Borough Council as a housing assistant but enjoyed it so much I stayed.

“I did my professional examinations, became qualified and was fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time to get promotion.

“Professionally most of my early career here at Lincoln seemed to be about mitigating the impact of various central governments’ legislation in order to provide and improve our services.

“Now, I’m leaving at a time when it’s getting exciting again as we’re building council houses for the first time in 20 years and that gives me enormous satisfaction that, from a housing perspective, I’m doing what I started out to do – to provide decent, affordable houses for people who need them.”

He says he plans to enjoy retirement by relaxing with his family: “I’ve no immediate plans for a long holiday abroad somewhere or an around the world cruise”, he said.

“I’m going to put my feet up at home and spend a lot more quality time with my wife, family and grandchildren and try to pay back some of the time that has been taken up on my career so far.”