Govanhill Housing Association has announced the retirement of its director Anne Lear after 22 years of service.

Anne came into post as director in September 1996 having previously worked at Partick, Charing Cross and Thenue housing associations.

Anne has always been a passionate advocate for the voluntary housing sector and community involvement and has worked tirelessly for and with local people to improve the Govanhill community. She was instrumental in bringing the Big Noise to Govanhill, a project which is currently engaged with over 1,000 local children encouraging a new generation of children to grow up making music.

Big Noise Govanhill continues to boost educational performance, health and wellbeing so that local children grow to achieve their full potential, contributing to positive communities.

Anne is a former Board member of the Scottish Refugee Council and GWSF where she was lead officer for regeneration and also a former chair of SFHA. She is currently on the Board of the Scottish Land Fund.

Lyn Ewing, chair of the Govanhill Community Development Trust, said: “I remember when Anne started she thought she might be here for 5 years or so, that was 22 years ago! I think that just shows how much she got involved in the community and the work. Anne has worked hard and I admire her tremendously.”

John McLardie, chair of Govanhill Housing Association, said: “We value greatly the contribution Anne has made in her time here and thank her for her years of hard work and leadership. We wish her all the very best for her retirement.”

Govanhill Housing Association’s new director, John Quinn, will be joining the Association in mid-April.

John has worked in housing and regeneration for the last 20 years in a variety of different roles including spells as partnership manager in the Gorbals working with Glasgow Alliance, and as director of one of Scotland’s first Urban Regeneration Companies in Craigmillar, Edinburgh. He joins the Association from Aberdeen City Council where his most recent role was as head of land and property assets.