by Alan Watkins
awatkins@thekmgroup.co.uk

It WAS a hurried round of farewells for Gravesham’s chief executive, Glyn Thomson, as he left the borough to start a new career.

His final appointment was at the Gurdwara where the Sikh community paid tribute to his work as the council’s leading officer and as a lay preacher.

A busy council official, Mr Thomson - a Scot known to his colleagues as Tigger - still found time during his years as chief executive to act as the priest-in-charge at Milton church when there was no incumbent.

Now he is turning his back on his £102,000 a year job to study for the church.
He is going to St Luke’s, one of the most deprived parts of Liverpool, where he is to work alongside its vicar.

Mr Thomson has commuted weekly from Liverpool to Gravesend since 1996 while his wife and family have remained on Merseyside.

Councillors and colleagues from the past and present lined up to shake his hand and say goodbye at a lunchtime reception in the Civic Centre.

Among those present were leaders of the Christian, Sikh, Islam and Buddhist faiths - and his wife, Bryony.

He paid tribute to all of them in his farewell speech.

Mr Thomson’s background was as an environmental health officer in Leeds and Sheffield.

Later he moved to Liverpool City Council before moving to Gravesend in the 1990s.

He said the council had made huge progress in recent times.

“We have made huge progress over recent times,” Mr Thomson said.
“I am confident for the future: I am handing over to David Hughes , the chief executive of Tonbridge and Malling.

“His authority is rated excellent, and he brings all his experience, enthusiasm and commitment to the job.

“I am only one person. We have a team of 550 staff and 44 members.
“What has happened in Gravesham has been achieved by everyone. We were a partnership.”

Earlier the two men attended a press conference to launch the council’s four year business plan.

Cllr John Burden, Leader of the Council executive, said the plan had the full backing of both parties.

Following the election it was amended to include members of the public sitting on committees.

Recruiting is now taking place. The new committee structure will be tested from September until next April.