Housing Stalwart Bob Stewart MBE Steps Down from Eildon Board
Date: 21/09/2011
Following a long and varied career in housing and wide range of voluntary activities, Bob Stewart MBE retired as a Board Member of Eildon Housing Association at the AGM on 7 September 2011.
Bob started his early working life as a joiner and later joined the Fire Service working in Galashiels for many years. After retiring from the Fire Service, he took up a part-time job with Eildon in 1987. His role was to liaise with the re-housing of owners and tenants and to co-ordinate the renovation of properties in the Old Town, Peebles - a Housing Action Area at that time. Bob demonstrated his natural talent for organisation, communication and dealing with people in a professional and straight-forward manner and carried out the task meticulously and with great success.
Having completed the Old Town Project, Bob continued his employment as a Clerk of Works which brought into play his earlier experience of working in the construction industry and as a member of the Health Board. This period coincided with an acceleration of Eildon's development programme and Bob was invited to work full time in this post.
Bob worked as Clerk of Works as a valued member of the Development Team, on a total of 27 projects - always conscientious, hard working and professional with a common sense approach. He retired in September 2000, but in typical fashion, he decided to continue to support his local community by becoming a Board Member of Eildon Housing Association in 2005, where his technical expertise was put to good use serving on both the Selection and Award Panel and the Acquisition and Development Advisory Group.
Bob's interests have not solely revolved around Eildon. From the 1960s onwards, he has also actively been involved in voluntary work in one shape or form including his local church, Galashiels Braw Lads' Committee, The Lucy Sanderson Home, and the Health Board. Bob was awarded the MBE in 1983.
Bob was warmly thanked for his invaluable contribution to the organisation over the preceding 19 years as an employee and as a Board member. All attendees present wished him well for the future with his wife and family.