Chair hosts reception for recently retired NILGA Chief Executive

The Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Errol Thompson, recently hosted a reception to mark the retirement of Mr Derek McCallan as Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA). Please see below, the text of the Chair’s speech at the event.

“Honoured guests, fellow Councillors

As Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, I am delighted to welcome you all to the Townhall, Enniskillen, this afternoon.

I would like to extend a particularly warm welcome to Derek McCallan, the recently retired Chief Executive of NILGA in whose honour this afternoon’s reception is being held. Derek, you are most welcome.

I would also like to welcome other representatives, NILGA President, Councillor Robert Burgess and Vice President Councillor Frances Burton, who have joined us in Enniskillen this afternoon.

Members felt that it would be remiss of the Council, not to acknowledge the tremendous work you have undertaken on behalf of Local Government in Northern Ireland since your appointment as Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Local Government Association in 2011. I am delighted to have been afforded the opportunity on behalf of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, to publicly pay tribute to you and to thank you for your contribution.

One of your biggest challenges came quite early in your tenure in trying to steer Council’s through the choppy waters of RPA across 2014 and 2015, which you accomplished superbly and the support you have offered to Councils in the intervening years has certainly been greatly appreciated by the members of this Council.

Our representatives on the various NILGA bodies have held you in the highest regard and your good working relationships with the 11 Council Chief Executives in Northern Ireland both collectively through SOLACE and individually have enabled much progress to be made across local government.

I’m not sure what your plans are for retirement, Derek, but hopefully it will give you much more time to indulge your love of running and of course spend more time with Maddy and the extended family. I understand that you have run in locations all over the world, including several marathons.

Can I, on behalf of all the members of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, offer my sincere congratulations to you and best wishes for a long, happy and healthy retirement.”