‘Mother Hen’ retires after ‘incredible’ 58-year council career

‘FANTASTIC CAREER’: Judith Chicken

By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor

A woman who began working at the Guildhall aged 17 has retired after an “incredible” 58-year council career.

Judith Chicken began working for the local authority as a shorthand typist on September 23, 1968, when Harold Wilson was Prime Minister and a year before Neil Armstrong became the first man to set foot on the moon.

She has now retired from her final role as a service support officer in Hull City Council’s neighbourhood and housing area teams – 58 years to the day since her career began.

Judith – affectionately known as “Mother Hen” – says she now plans to have “a good rest”, dote on her three grandchildren, and get away in the caravan to the Yorkshire Dales.

She said: “Of course back then we didn’t have computers and photocopiers, so every letter had to be typed out individually, often the exact same letter that would be going to many different councillors.

“Thankfully, things have changed a bit since then!”

Judith’s entire career has been spent in local authority positions in Hull and East Yorkshire. Her other posts include secretarial roles at Humberside County Council; Dunswell, Endike and Sir Henry Cooper Schools; and as a clerical assistant at the city council.

Judith said: “I had two goals – I wanted to get to 75 whilst still in work, and I wanted to finish on the anniversary of my first day.

STERLING SERVICE: Judith cuts the cake at a surprise celebration on her last day

“When I started at the council, the retirement age for women was 60 so I could have finished years ago.

“But I’ve always liked what I did, and I’ve been lucky to spend most of my working career in a good team environment.

“I do know that now is the right time, and whilst it is hard to give up working, I am looking forward to retirement.”

Councillor Mike Ross, leader of Hull City Council, said: “I’d like to pay tribute to Judith for a fantastic career working within the council.

“So much about Hull has changed since Judith first started working in the 1960s, and I know her experience of council life over the years will have been very valuable to her and her colleagues.

“I hope now that she can enjoy her retirement, and I know everyone at Hull City Council sends best wishes to her.”

Council chief executive Matt Jukes said: “It’s incredible to think that Judith joined us before the big shake-up of local government in the 1970s created Humberside County Council, and she then went through another big period of change in the 1990s that brought her formally back into Hull City Council.

“I’m not sure we’ve had any staff member during my time here who could match Judith’s tenure – 58 years from first walking into the Guildhall until the final day is really an incredible achievement.

“I know Judith’s close colleagues will really miss her and I extend my best wishes to her in retirement.”