Judith Chicken first stepped into the Guildhall in September 1968
Judith Chicken during a surprise celebration for her on her final working day at Hull City Council on September 23, 2026(Image: Hull City Council)
A self-described – and aptly named – ‘mother hen’ has retired exactly 58 years after she began working at Hull’s Guildhall. Judith Chicken’s most recent position was as a Service Support Officer in Hull City Council‘s Neighbourhood & Housing Area Teams.
Judith says she now intends to have “a good rest”, spend time with her three grandchildren, and escape in the caravan to the Yorkshire Dales. She was 17 when she first entered the Guildhall on September 23, 1968 as a shorthand typist in the council’s education department.
Judith said: “Of course, back then we didn’t have computers and photocopiers, so every letter had to be typed out individually, often the exact same letter that would be going to many different councillors. Thankfully, things have changed a bit since then!”.
While technically her career did take her slightly outside the city’s boundaries to a role at Dunswell School for several years in the 1980s, Judith’s entire employment history was in Local Authority roles in East Yorkshire, including at Endike School and Sir Henry Cooper School.
She added: “I had two goals – I wanted to get to 75 whilst still in work, and I wanted to finish on the anniversary of my first day. When I started at the council, the retirement age for women was 60, so I could have finished years ago.
“But I’ve always liked what I did, and I’ve been lucky to spend most of my working career in a good team environment. I do know that now is the right time, and whilst it is hard to give up working, I am looking forward to retirement.”
Hull City Council leader, Cllr Mike Ross, said: “I’d like to pay tribute to Judith for a fantastic career working within the council. So much about Hull has changed since Judith first started working in the 1960s, and I know her experience of council life over the years will have been very valuable to her and her colleagues.
“I hope now that she can enjoy her retirement, and I know everyone at Hull City Council sends best wishes to her.”
Hull City Council chief executive Matt Jukes said: “It’s incredible to think that Judith joined us before the big shake-up of Local Government in the 1970s created Humberside County Council, and she then went through another big period of change in the 1990s that brought her formally back into Hull City Council.
“I’m not sure we’ve had any staff member during my time here who could match Judith’s tenure – 58 years from first walking into the Guildhall until the final day is really an incredible achievement. I know Judith’s close colleagues will really miss her and I extend my best wishes to her in retirement.”
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