Credit union safe in hands of Derek, board and staff, says Tom Allen as he retires

Addressing his colleagues at the credit union offices in Mullingar on Friday, his last day working there, Tom Allen, outgoing manager, thanked everyone for gathering to wish him well on his retirement.

“Thanks for coming here in such numbers, including staff who weren’t due to be working today, directors, volunteers, ex-staff. I’m delighted to see you all and thank you for coming.”

Looking around the room, Tom pointed out that he doesn’t have the longest service in the office, and said that “is a testament to the organisation we have – we have directors who are here for 30, 40 years, we have staff, an increasing list getting towards the 25 years. It’s a great organisation and I was lucky to stumble into it back in 1998”.

“I don’t know how I ended up in here but I’m thankful I did. I remember when I got here, I thought, God, get me out of here as soon as! There’s nothing to be done here, and all the rest of it, and now, 27 years later, I wish I was only starting again.

“It’s just a wonderful organisation, wonderful people.

“It’s a unique organisation and a unique set of people, and I’m glad to have been involved and I’m glad to have known all the people I see around here, the staff, the directors, the volunteers.”

Referring to the challenges in the world of finance that Derek mentioned in his address, Tom said, “they didn’t bring us down”.

“And they won’t bring you down in the future. I think as I leave, and I know other people have left, and people on the board are coming towards the end of their 12 years – we’re handing it from one to another, and that’s all we’re doing.

“I’m handing it to Derek, a wonderful guy that I’ve worked with for 25 years. I know the credit union is safe in the hands of Derek and the board and the staff.

“So thank you all and best of luck in the future.”