Catch-up event held for social housing retirees

Thirty-four people attended the Rhoderick Dhu in Glasgow on Friday, 28th February to catch up “before it’s too late”.

The event was the brainchild of Craig Sanderson and Jim Hayton.

Craig told Scottish Housing News: “Jim and I had been pondering the good old days (ie between 1975 and 2019) and those of us lucky enough to have been both collaborators and competitors in the wonderful worlds of housing, charity and social enterprise sectors in Scotland while serving the interests of those who relied on us most.

“It seems like once ‘retiring’ many of us drift out of touch - only meeting at funerals! We came up with an idea which involves us catching up with each other before it’s too late.”

Around 130 people were alerted of the event. They had a range of backgrounds, including HAs, local authorities, SSHA, consultancies, social enterprise(s), the Housing Corporation and its successors, funders and academia.

Hailing from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Highland, Stirlingshire and England, those in attendance included: Keith Anderson, Jim Hayton, Craig Sanderson, Mary Taylor, Lesley Baird, Robert Tamburini, Niall Paterson, Colin Armstrong, Foster Evans, Amanda Britain, Sandy Watson, Rod Hunter, Lynne Carr, Raymond Albeson, Roger Popplewell, Susan Torrance, John Hughes, Malcolm Matheson, Ian Morrison, Mike Scott, Marion Jacobs, Robert McDowall, John Rogerson, Bob Millar, Isobel Anderson, Carole Oatway, Mike Bruce, Dave Anderson, Patrick Flynn, Peter Lee, Margaret Vass, Catherine Rogerson, Chris Cunningham and Duncan McLean.

Craig Sanderson said dozens more of those invited apologised but asked to be kept informed of potential future events.

“This gathering was deemed by those attending to be successful enough to merit similar ones being organised annually or even twice a year, ” he added. “So watch this space.”