A Hull City Council staff member has retired 58 years to the day since she first started working at the Guildhall.
Judith Chicken’s final role was as a Service Support Officer in the Council’s Neighbourhood & Housing Area Teams.
The self-confessed – and aptly named – ‘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.
Judith was 17 when she first stepped into the Guildhall on 23 September 1968 as a shorthand typist in the Council’s education department.
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!”.
Whilst strictly her working career did take her just beyond the city’s boundaries to a position at Dunswell School for a few years in the 1980s, Judith’s entire job history was in Local Authority positions in East Yorkshire, including at Endike School and Sir Henry Cooper School.
She added: “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.
“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.”
Judith Chicken as pictured during a surprise celebration to mark her final working day at Hull City Council, 58 years to the day that she first started working at the Guildhall.
The Leader of Hull City Council, Councillor Mike Ross, 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.”
The Chief Executive of Hull City Council, 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.”
To find out more about careers at Hull City Council, visit Hull City Council recruitment – Working for Hull City Council.
JUDITH CHICKEN’S CAREER
| Dates | Job | Location |
| 1968 to 1974 | Shorthand Typist | Hull City Council |
| 1974 to 1981 | Divisional Education Officers Secretary | Humberside County Council |
| 1981 to 1985 | School Secretary | Dunswell School |
| 1985 to 1988 | School Secretary | Endike School |
| 1988 to 1996 | Admin Officer | Sir Henry Cooper School |
| 1996 to 1998 | Clerical Assistant | Hull City Council |
| 1998 to-date | Administrative Assistant roles which later changed into Service Support Officer position | Hull City Council |