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John Humble retires

At the turn of the year John Humble, announced he was to retire from his Director post later in the year and, at the Big Meeting on July 14th, he proudly walked in front of the DAMHA banner for the last time .

John, who is 59 this year, joined the Association in 1989 and will have completed 18 years service as Director and leaves the Association in a strong position.

He said “I go with a heavy heart, I am giving up a great job – it has been a privilege to work with, and for, such marvellous people. But, I look forward to more time with my family and hobbies – including Sunderland AFC! I will also be doing some part-time and charity work to keep the old brain cells moving”.

“It’s been an interesting and challenging job. We have greatly improved services to residents, evidenced by high customer satisfaction rates and the Audit Commission Inspection Report which concluded that we `provide a good two star service with excellent prospects for improvement` which was one of the top results in the Country”

Over the years John has also overseen the comprehensive modernisation of 1100 homes and the building of over 500 new two-bedroom bungalows. “Not only have we improved our housing stock, but if you include general maintenance, we on average put £10m per annum into the local economy and directly provide jobs for 64 people – we are not just a little bit of the mining history of Co. Durham, but something moving forward and having a real impact on the Regeneration of our Coalfield Communities”.

Bob Olaman, Chairman of DAMHA said, “John has guided the Association to a much stronger position than it was 18 years ago. He has always been extremely conscientious, hard working and supportive with the true interests of DAMHA very much at heart – he will be a difficult act to follow and we wish him well”.

John can trace his family tree back to 1740 in Weardale where his family were candle makers and sellers in Westgate and the family were in the lead mining industry. As the lead mines closed, they became coal miners at Cornsay, and when the mine was exhausted moved nearer the coast to find work at Penshaw near Shiney Row. John’s father followed his father into North Biddick Colliery at the age of 14 years and then transferred to Harraton or ‘Cotia’ as it was locally known to rise through the ranks to Fore-overman before transferring on its closure to the The Knack at Seaham in 1965.

“It has been surprising over the years just how many residents I have met who knew my family, including many who also remember me from my cricketing days in the Coast League”. One of the saddest sights John has seen over the years is the breakdown of the village communities as the mines closed including the loss of so many sports and social facilities that were supported by the working miner. “I remember playing football and cricket at numerous colliery welfare grounds – they were always top class”

“We have aged miners homes in over 80 villages and it has been great to get round them all – I love the Durham Landscape from the Dales to Durham City to the Coast. When I retire I want to walk the Weardale Way – the entire length of the River Wear from Sunderland to Cowshill and the entire coast from South Shields to Hartlepool – I’ve done some parts already but want to fill in the missing bits”.

One of his joys has been visiting residents to hear at first hand what their issues are.

“I will greatly miss the people I work with – I have been privileged to lead a great set of people in a huge team effort – all have pulled together to make the Association so relevant and successful. But, I will keep in touch, and read `The Banner` and visit our excellent web site, and just like the ‘old days’ – meet on the Racecourse, in the same place (near the Scoreboard) at the Big Meeting”.